By Tina Perinotto 20 April 2011 – Updated: The federal government has axed the $1billion tax breaks for green buildings program from the coming budget and put it up for consultation for 12 months after a storm of protests from the property industry... 
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By Nicola Woodward 24 March – As it is currently proposed, the Tax Breaks for Green Buildings has several design features that render it at best a consultant’s windfall and at worst, a $1billion buffer for a government under intense pressure from... 
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Leon Gettler 24 March 2100  – A centre-piece of the ALP campaign in last year’s election was its promise of $1 billion in tax breaks for businesses on investments in energy-saving measures for commercial building, one of a number of climate... 
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By Simon Wild The US Green Building Council is being sued for false advertising about its  rating tool LEEDS.  Let’s not allow fear of litigation to stand in the way of innovation in Australia, argues Simon Wild. 18 March 2011 – Opinion: The... 
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by Michael French, partner Queensland, Norton Rose 21 January 2011 – The floods affecting Queensland, Victoria and NSW have been described as unprecedented and their impact on the economy will indeed be extraordinary.  Early estimates place the... 
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By Tina Perinotto 21 January 2011 – The federal government has released a consultation paper on the tax breaks for green buildings program which will be worth up to $1 billion. It has even provided a handy set of questions as a starting point for... 
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By Nicola Woodward FAVOURITES: ANALYSIS – 26 July 2010 – It isn’t every Monday you wake up to the fact that a Sunday press release by the incumbent Government in the run up to a general election contains a promising policy. Yesterday... 
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FAVOURITES – 13 July, 2010 - The number of rating tools, policies, reports, incentives and legal rulings on sustainable residential  development has proliferated in recent years. In this comprehensive work, legal firm Herbert Geer has created clear... 
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Brief – 10 August 2010 – A conference to be held at the Columbia Law School in New York City will address the legal issues surrounding island nations that are at risk of being wiped off the map due to rising sea levels. A 2007 report from... 
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- By Stafford Hopewell, partner, Gadens Lawyers, Brisbane - FAVOURITES – 31 January 2010 – Climate change is starting to emerge as a significant issue in planning and environment decision-making. Courts and tribunals are increasingly being... 
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by Nicola Woodward - FAVOURITES – 21 April 2009 - Accelerated Depreciation is a core platform of the property industry as a way to green buildings – but there are major flaws in this approach and better ways to achieve the desired outcomes…. “Green... 
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By Tina Perinotto Listed companies and major banks, expected to form the basis of a carbon credit market, are on a collision course with property rights unless a clear security of title for carbon credits is developed, Australia’s leading valuers say. The... 
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by Tony Rose The National Greenhouse and Energy Act requires certain businesses to report on their energy use, production, and greenhouse gas emissions. Property groups will be affected by many aspects of the legislation — particularly as contractor... 
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by Charmian Barton Significant changes to the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 (NSW) came into effect on 1 July 2009.  Businesses who own, lease or manage contaminated land in New South Wales may find themselves liable for contamination where... 
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by James Paton It may not be part of the Rudd Government’s plan, but laws designed to tackle climate change are turning into a highly welcome economic stimulus for lawyers and accountants. While a number of these professional firms are shooing redundancy... 
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by Dariel De Sousa and Barnaby Chessell ... 18 June – The effects of climate change on our physical environment are varied and many.  One consequence of climate change of particular relevance for the planning system is sea level rise. Climate... 
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by Nicola Woodward - 21 April 2009 – Accelerated Depreciation is a core platform of the property industry as a way to green buildings – but there are major flaws in this approach and better ways to achieve the desired outcomes…. “Green... 
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18 June – BRIEF: Changes to the guidelines contained in the new s 60 of the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997  in NSW, have provided some breathing space to property owners. The maximum penalty for failing to report a contaminated site to DECC... 
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By Tina Perinotto The Department of Climate Change will take a soft approach to businesses who have accidental trouble managing their compliance the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. Not so if the behaviour is deliberate or criminal,... 
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By Tina Perinotto The Department of Climate Change will take a soft approach to businesses who have accidental trouble managing their compliance the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. Not so if the behaviour is deliberate or criminal,... 
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by Lynne Blundell As social awareness of climate change grows around the world so does the power of green marketing and branding. But there is growing concern that some organisations promoting their green credentials are engaging in unjustified claims,... 
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By Charmian Barton Recent changes to NSW contaminated land law could mean businesses who own, lease or manage contaminated land in NSW will be liable for contamination where previously they were not. The Contaminated Land Management Amendment Act 2008... 
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