Environment
Rainfall records likely as storms batter the east coast
27 December
Severe weather is battering Australia's east coast with thunderstorms and flash flooding expected to continue across NSW, Victoria and Queensland. After some centres likely had their wettest Christmas Day on record, more thunderstorm warnings...[Read More]
Google links solar farm deal to help big data go green
20 December
A business-critical data centre specialist and a global renewable energy provider are teaming up with tech giant Google to build new generation capacity in Australia's energy grid. Data centre firm AirTrunk, Swedish energy giant OX2 and Google on...[Read More]
Australia won’t sign ‘death certificate’ climate deal
13 December
Australia will not sign the "death certificates" of small island nations, after COP28 discussions produced a draft climate deal that omitted the demands of many countries for a phase-out of fossil fuels. As the 2023 United Nations Climate Change...[Read More]
Lamb on the menu in up and down outlook for farmers
13 December
Lower retail prices will see increased appetite for lamb while farmers can expect prices to strengthen in 2024, fresh insights from Rural Bank suggest. The bank's Australian Agriculture Outlook found while lamb prices will remain well below...[Read More]
Nature repair bill passes after Greens agree to deal
6 December
Land owners will be able to be paid to improve the environment on their properties after the Greens struck a deal with the government on its proposed nature repair market. Under the scheme, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, businesses and...[Read More]
Australia yet to shine using solar in agriculture
29 November
A lack of clear policy and planning around the use of solar energy for agriculture has left Australia lagging in the field of agrivoltaics, according to a new report. The report "Pursuing an Agrivoltaic future in Australia" saw dozens of farmers,...[Read More]
Digging in to improve Australia’s poor soil health
29 November
A national action plan to improve Australia's poor soil health will include a country wide soil monitoring program. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt launched the plan on Tuesday that sets out to improve Australia's poor and declining soil...[Read More]
Low-interest loans for farmers as drought grips
22 November
Low-interest loans of up to $250,000 will be made available to NSW farmers struggling to cope as drought conditions hit more than half of the state. The $250 million state government-backed Drought Ready and Resilient Fund will go towards making...[Read More]
Sea dumping legislation passes the upper house
15 November
Changes to Australia's sea dumping laws will allow carbon dioxide to be stored under the seabed after legislation cleared the upper house. The government pushed the sea dumping bill through the Senate on Monday evening, with the support of the...[Read More]
Threatened species list grows as bushfire season looms
8 November
A chubby frog, eight kinds of crayfish and a river fish with no scientific description have been added to the growing list of threatened native wildlife. As the nation tackles its worst bushfire season since the 2019 Black Summer blazes, the...[Read More]
Six year window to stop global warming, scientists say
1 November
The carbon dioxide budget for stopping the earth heating 1.5C above pre-industrial levels could run out in the next six years, according to a study. Scientists said the window is "rapidly closing" and at the current rate of emissions it is now...[Read More]
Electric LandCruisers expected to drive change in mines
1 November
Thousands of electric four-wheel drives equipped with smart software could enter the Australian mining sector as part of a deal between two climate firms. Irish company CoolPlanet revealed plans to extend its partnership with Australia's...[Read More]
Future Antarctic ice shelf melting ‘unavoidable’
25 October
Humans "may have lost control" of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet - with inevitable melting from heating caused by greenhouse gas emissions set to raise sea levels throughout the following decades, a study has found. Even if emissions are controlled...[Read More]
Farmers wary of dud deal as EU trade pact talks resume
25 October
Australian farmers are wary a rushed trade agreement with Europe could leave them high and dry. Trade Minister Don Farrell is heading to a G7 forum of trade ministers in Japan next week and will meet his European Union counterpart on the...[Read More]
Winter crop production to fall amid drier conditions
18 October
Australia's winter crop production is expected to drop by almost a quarter this financial year amid drier conditions. Rabobank's 2023/24 Australian winter crop forecast is predicting 48.72 million tonnes this year, that's down by 24 per cent on...[Read More]