Environment ministers have backed air quality measures that include tougher controls on particle pollution, but Australians will no longer have a consistent level of protection from the serious health effects of fine particles.
Environment ministers have agreed to strengthen controls on particle pollution, speed up work on a national clean air agreement and establish a national standard for the environmental management of chemicals.
A Federal Government report, issued today, reveals plans to 'streamline' federal hazardous waste laws and to use mutual recognition arrangements to manage federal, state and territory threatened species lists.
A Northern Territory inquiry has concluded shale gas can be safely extracted and there is no need for a moratorium, while Tasmania has extended until 2020 its temporary ban on fracking.