Bulletin

Environment Bulletin - July 2024

Australia – Updates to Safeguard Rules proposed

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is proposing amendments to the Safeguard Rules that will support the implementation of the Safeguard Mechanism reforms. The proposed amendments will, among other things, set international best practice benchmarks, publish remaining production variables and an industry average default value, and update production variable definitions.

Australia – Bills to implement Nature Positive Reforms introduced

The Australian Government has introduced three bills to Parliament – Environment Information Australia, Environment Law Amendments and Transitional Provisions, and Environment Protection Australia – that will implement the second stage of the Nature Positive Plan. The bills include measures to establish Environment Protection Australia and Environment Information Australia, increase penalties, and provide a legal definition of, and reporting measures for, ‘nature positive’.

Queensland – Resources Safety and Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 passed

The Queensland Government has passed the Resources Safety and Health Legislation Amendment Act 2024, with changes to begin over the next five years to allow industry time for implementation. The legislation will facilitate high reliability organisation behaviours, modernise regulatory enforcement powers, and introduce enforceable undertakings to the resources sector. The Government’s response to the Parliamentary Committee’s report is available.