21-30 of 145 results
A new era of environmental governance: national agencies and tougher penalties
Following announcements in April about next steps in the Federal Government's 'Nature Positive' reforms (see our previous Insight here), three Bills have been tabled in Parliament to implement Stage 2 of the three stages of amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1 ...
Government support for critical minerals industry escalates
The WA and Federal Governments have recently announced significant funding and regulatory support packages to accelerate the development of Western Australia into a critical minerals powerhouse. ...
Mandatory human rights due diligence in the mainstream – what the CS3D means for companies
The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) has been approved by the EU Council and EU Parliament and is expected to be formally adopted in coming months. The CS3D will establish a due diligence standard on sustainability issues and create potential legal liability for in-scope co ...
Second stage of EPBC Act reforms announced: draft legislation expected shortly
Draft legislation is expected to be introduced into Parliament in the coming weeks to create two new national independent bodies: Environment Protection Australia and Environment Information Australia. ...
Mandatory climate-related financial reporting: business implications of the draft legislation
On 12 January 2024, the Federal Government released the exposure draft of the Treasury Laws Amendment Bill: Climate-related financial disclosure. In this Insight, we explain key elements of the Draft Legislation, including areas of uncertainty that have been raised in submissions to government. ...
Just transition
The 'just transition' is frequently used to refer to a framework for a transition to a low-carbon economy that takes into account the associated economic and social costs and opportunities. ...
Constitutional cloud cast by High Court over state taxes affecting goods: Vanderstock and the future of federal-state taxation powers
In its recent decision of Vanderstock v Victoria, the High Court has ruled by a 4:3 majority that the Victorian electric vehicle road user charge is unconstitutional. ...
TNFD Recommendations to prompt a step change in nature risk management and disclosure
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures recommendations (the TNFD Recommendations) provide a means to standardise nature-related risk management and reporting, and to capitalise on nature-related opportunities. ...
Voluntary schemes and soft law
The term 'soft law' refers to rules, principles or guidelines that are not themselves legally binding, but nonetheless play an important role in promoting compliance with certain standards of behaviour. Rules of 'soft law' can often act as a precursor to the emergence of 'hard law'. ...
'Safety net' or 'trampoline'? Emissions safeguard mechanism draft rules released
The Federal Government has released its draft rules for the emissions safeguard mechanism which will impose financial penalties of up to 18 million on businesses that emit more than their allocated emissions baselines ...