Infrastructure, drought funds in MYEFO

The mid-year economic update has $4.2 billion in new and accelerated infrastructure spending.

16 December, 2019

What are the states’ different positions on the NEG?

As energy ministers meet with their federal counterpart Josh Frydenberg, Tony Wood’s guide compares the states’ various stances on the future of the National Energy Guarantee.

9 August, 2018

Governments should buy recycled material: inquiry

Commonwealth departments and state and local governments would adopt more explicit ‘green procurement’ policies under measures recommended by a Senate committee.

2 July, 2018

Mixed reaction to environment ministers’ recycling agreement

Local government welcomes new pledge to tackle waste but recycling industry says implementation detail and funding are missing.

1 May, 2018

Opinion – Hot summer, but no end to climate wars

Record-breaking temperatures across Australia have seen no end to the continued bickering over climate and energy policy in Australia. The release of Keating-era cabinet papers from 1994 show that the Governmnet was struggling with how to address the issue even then. In 1992, Environment Minister Ros Kelly had signed Australia up to the new UN […]

11 January, 2018

Even the Productivity Commission wants a carbon price – OPINION

They didn’t make a big deal of it, but the Productivity Commission’s new five-year overview report, commissioned by the Federal Government, has recommended the introduction of a carbon price. The productivity commission is of course an advisory body, and the Government has explicitly ruled out a price on carbon or anything that can even remotely […]

24 October, 2017

$5 billion fund has done nothing

The Federal Government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), announced with great fanfare 18 months ago, has yet to invest in single project. “This facility will provide financing to build the transport, energy, water and communications infrastructure needed in our north,” said Josh Frydenberg, the Minister for Industry Innovation and Science, when he announced the fund […]

8 October, 2017

Senate fight looms over the deep blue sea

Cutbacks to marine protection in the Coral Sea will meet fierce opposition in the Senate, and even the ocean is predicted to fight back.

24 July, 2017

The Spinning Economy: Clover Moore tells Sydney business to go ride a bike

Velocentric growth model.

28 July, 2016

Turnbull ministry tweaks quietly demolish Abbott’s policy agenda

Subtle, smart reforms lead rebuilding

18 July, 2016

No numbers kept on Centrepay consumer leasing rorts

Ask no questions, get no stats.

20 May, 2015

Crackdown looms for Centrelink big screen TV renters

Payne readies for intervention on exploitative leasing bottom feeders.

1 April, 2015