Archived News for Green Sector Professionals

The Australian Government is continuing its pledge to dissolve approval processes it deems unnecessary or duplicative, this week announcing a new ‘one-stop-shop’ environmental process for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities.

Suppliers say Australia has room for more wells

The chief executive of a major mine pumping equipment supplier says Australia needs to ignore the concerns of environmentalists and other residents, and surge full-steam into coal seam gas extraction.

BHP boss says direct action may work for them

The chief executive of BHP Billiton says a ‘direct action’ approach to dealing with climate change is the best way to protect trade-exposed industries.

Coastal title claim covers ten councils

Councils are considering a native title claim which would see stewardship transferred for a large portion of Australia’s east coast.

NSW moves to put lid on Crown Lands

Legislation is making its way through the New South Wales Upper House to amend the Crown Lands Act, in an effort to protect licence agreements for hundreds of farmers.

Algae growth shows centuries of sea-ice shifts

The ebb and flow of annual changes in sea-ice cover is reflected in the algae underneath, allowing scientists to plot changes in the ice by counting the ‘age rings’ of water plants.

Better science hopes to save billions

Even under the most modest global warming scenarios, extreme El Niño years will occur twice as often – a new report from the University of New South Wales says.

Chevron funds Barrow Island bug book

A new book has added 25 species to the thousands which inhabit a small island area off the north west of Australia.

Eddies vetted for air supply

An international team has collected information to show in greater detail how undersea ‘eddies’ distribute oxygen, warmth and nutrients around the ocean, and how a reduction of this process could leave some parts starving.

Freshwater fish fighters rally to plan next waves

The nation’s leading freshwater fish ecologists have gathered to discuss threats to freshwater fish species at a symposium attracting close to 100 delegates from across the country.

Stick to the script to fight bacteria back

Research is pretty fast - but bacterial evolution is faster, a University of Adelaide drug expert says.

Hyundai's hydro debut set

For years people have said that the only real replacement for internal combustion engines would be a hydrogen-driven motor, but that is too far off. Not anymore.

Sand mine expansion sees Government backing, community outrage

The expansion of a silica mine in New South Wales has been recommended for approval by the Department of Planning, but will face continuing clashes with activists opposed to the 15 million tonne dig.

New search to single-out solar improvements

Cambridge researchers have gone back to the drawing board for solar cells, looking to redesign the entire system to allow better efficiency with cheaper materials.

Task-force formed to gauge Eyre resource risk

A taskforce has been created by a local government association to investigate the potentially harmful, impacts of mining development on regional communities.

Agriculture cuts could leave doors open to disease

With exports on the rise and a huge government focus on infrastructure and transport, it would stand to reason that securing borders from invasive diseases and destructive life-forms has become more important than ever – but regardless, the Federal Department of Agriculture is looking to shed over 200 biosecurity staff.