Green groups warn climate courage missing from budget
Budget announcements for green industry and nature protection fall short as climate costs mount and opportunities to extract more fossil fuel income go missed.
environmental politics
Electric car sales surge ahead amid fuel uncertainty
Australian drivers have broken the record for electric car sales again, as petrol and diesel-powered vehicle sales stall.
End of the free ride: studies call for road user charge
Two transport groups say fuel excise is no longer running smoothly and the government needs to charge motorists based on how far they drive.
Aussies want electric cars to save cash, not the planet
Australians are considering electric cars as fuel prices rise, with potential buyers fuelled by the possibility of saving money rather than the environment.
Inquiry launched as governments spar over oil project
A state government has launched an inquiry into new environmental laws as it calls for a national interest exemption for an oil exploration project.
Magnetic attraction to lift Aussie green iron prospects
A process that uses magnets rather than water to extract high-quality iron ore will be tested at an Australian mine to boost the nation's export potential.
Experts pour water on ‘speculative’ oil field proposal
An energy expert is pointing to logistical and political hurdles to oil drilling in Australia as climate campaigners pour cold water on a proposal.
Electric vehicle fee could throttle record adoption
A road user charge for electric vehicle drivers could stall record-breaking sales, a study has found, with households in outer suburbs the hardest hit.
Fuel fears drive more Aussie buyers to electric cars
Fuel shortages and price rises are providing a "tipping point" for electric vehicles in Australia, with one brand selling out of its local stock.
Discount loans to rev up Aussie electric vehicle market
A $100 million scheme designed to cut the cost of buying an electric vehicle will launch during a period of record demand.
Electric or bust: truck industry demands urgent U-turn
Skyrocketing diesel prices are adding cost and uncertainty to heavy transport and operators are calling for help to change the industry's direction.
Fill ‘er up: electric trucks plug into charging network
Three electric truck charging hubs will be built in one Australian capital city in the first stage of a project designed to power up the transport transition.
‘Stealth’ land claim law parked after Indigenous uproar
Labor has shelved changes to crown land aimed at protecting fire stations and marinas from Aboriginal claims after being accused of "scaremongering".
Shock at the petrol pump sparks electric vehicle surge
Enquiries about new and second-hand electric cars are setting records as motorists look for ways to avoid the rising price of petrol and diesel.
Bumpy path predicted for self-driving cars in Australia
Australia could cut emissions and car parks by introducing self-driving cars, but the technology could also have unexpected negative effects on roads.
‘Flashing red’: climate imbalance reaches all-time high
Energy in must equal energy out for a stable climate, but the balance is increasingly off kilter with troubling, long-lasting consequences.
Renewable energy project may help blow down power bills
The savings from a new type of energy project could slash electricity bills for households in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, and consume less farming land.
Postcode where more drivers plug into electric car cuts
More than 100,000 Australians have taken advantage of the federal government's tax exemption for electric vehicles but households in one location are most keen.
Intensifying storm looms for flood-soaked communities
A possible tropical cyclone looks set to bring more wild weather to parts of northern Australia still recovering from record-breaking flooding.
‘Hyper-Australia’: Nationals leader targets One Nation
The new leader of the Nationals has outlined his plan to take on One Nation after being elected to the top job following David Littleproud's shock resignation.
Car sales slow down but electric vehicles charge ahead
Electric vehicles have broken sales records in Australia even as the larger automotive market stalled, with sales of petrol and hybrid models falling.
‘Absolute dream’: candidate’s hope for sex abuse reform
As politicians prepare for a hotly contested federal by-election, an independent reveals her hope for big reforms to protect child sexual abuse survivors.
How mirroring nature might just save the humble oyster
Oyster reefs are already a restoration priority and Australian research could boost survival rates of the water-filtering, habitat-providing species.
Green groups slam ministerial exemption for Alcoa mine
Conservationists are outraged that a minister has used national interest provisions to continue strip-mining a forest ecosystem.
Popular car brand earns $24m debt under pollution rules
Some of the most popular car companies in Australia and a selection of luxury brands have failed to meet emissions targets in their first year of operation.
‘Right the ship’: polluters tax could be vote spinner
An ex-Labor strategist turned pollster says there are votes in taxing Australia's biggest polluters through reframing the debate and evolving demographics.
Electric car sales may stall if tax policy changes gear
Australia's biggest electric vehicle incentive is under review and both traditional car makers and the EV industry warns change could lead to a crash.
Pump it up: former PM calls for action on hydropower
Hydropower projects should receive more support and faster approvals if Australia is to meet its renewable energy targets, a group has warned.
Discount loans to drive down the price of electric cars
Finance on electric vehicles from two big brands will be subsidised by the government under a plan to cut the cost of low-emission cars.
Households could get paid under plan to price pollution
Australia could raise $35 billion a year by putting a price on pollution and help households and businesses by sharing the revenue, a report has found.
Bushfire evacuee slams ‘selling the future for money’
An activist arrested while blocking a major port has slammed the "unbelievably irresponsible" federal government after fighting to save her home from fires.