Environment
Inflated charges: push to make landlords pay gas bills
2 September
Australian renters are being slugged almost $440 million a year to stay connected to gas, analysis has shown, even though landlords control whether their properties remain on the network. Rewiring Australia released the finding on Friday and called...[Read More]
Push on to shake up ‘best before’ and ‘use-by’ dates
19 August
As a kid, Emma Willliams’ favourite dinner was McDonalds.But now a mum-of-two with a backyard full of chickens, she’s desperate for her family to avoid packaged foods and is making it her mission to minimise food waste.“I find it really hard...[Read More]
Energy rollercoaster: Australian bills to fall and rise
16 July
Solar panels, wind farms and cheaper batteries will help to cut Australian electricity bills in the coming years, even as the artificial intelligence boom pushes up the price of gas technology. But energy prices will rise after 2030, a study has...[Read More]
Rent hikes, more homelessness as climate change bites
20 May
Climbing insurance premiums and other economic symptoms of climate change are expected to push rents higher and drive homelessness without well-targeted intervention. Under a high-emissions future, characterised by the ongoing dominance of fossil...[Read More]
Budget lacks energy for big renewable project reforms
13 May
Australia’s growing throng of solar panels, batteries and electric cars will be managed by a new regulator in a multimillion-dollar budget commitment welcomed by investment and climate groups. The change will come in addition to support for...[Read More]
Green groups warn climate courage missing from budget
13 May
Climate wins on bike lanes and batteries have been overshadowed by a failure to capture fossil fuel revenue and rein in off-road diesel credits, environment groups say. The lead up to Tuesday’s federal budget was dominated by a campaign to hike...[Read More]
Rural leaders see budget shortfalls for health, roads
13 May
Australia’s regions will benefit from funding to bolster fuel supplies and public hospitals, but investment in rural health reform, better connectivity and safer country roads continues to fall short, according to industry groups. The federal...[Read More]
Scientists make Parkinson’s drug from plastic bottles
18 March
Scientists have discovered a way of making a drug for Parkinson’s disease from used plastic bottles, saying it shows how waste materials can be “reimagined as valuable resources”. Developed by a team at the University of Edinburgh, the...[Read More]
No ill winds blowing for renewables spending in budget
11 March
The federal climate minister has hit back at speculation there will be budget cuts to clean energy policies, comparing it to stripping funds from health or education. Chris Bowen dismissed reports of cuts to new clean energy funding in the federal...[Read More]
Compact homes unlocking cheaper, cleaner city living
5 March
In a time of climate change and strained housing affordability, sometimes it pays to think small. At just 50 square metres, the apartments and townhouses inside the Two Sisters development in North Melbourne are far smaller than the 236 sq m average...[Read More]
Big trucks and buses drive a heavy healthcare burden
25 February
Pollution from heavy vehicles is costing Australia more than $6.2 billion a year in premature deaths and serious medical conditions such as childhood asthma and strokes. Researchers from the University of Melbourne issued the warning on Monday in an...[Read More]
Discount loans to drive down the price of electric cars
5 February
Motorists will be offered another incentive to choose electric over petrol through a $60 million program to cut the cost of car loans. The Climate Energy Finance Corporation announced the scheme in partnership with Hyundai on Tuesday, revealing it...[Read More]
Building smarter: How to create an environmentally friendly home
29 January
Sustainability is no longer a niche consideration in property—it’s becoming a core part of how Australians design, build, and renovate their homes. With rising energy costs, increasing climate awareness, and greater buyer demand for efficient...[Read More]
Drivers told to paws and think of road risk to koalas
24 December
When wildlife rescuer Ina Egermann finds a koala hit by a car, the first thing she does is apologise. “I say, ‘I’m so sorry that we humans have done this to you’,” the Friends of the Koala charity volunteer told AAP. Then she gently holds...[Read More]
2025: The year the world chose direction
18 December
History rarely announces itself in dramatic bursts. More often, it reveals itself through quiet turning points — moments when trends harden into realities and choices can no longer be postponed. 2025 was one of those years. It did not deliver a...[Read More]