News from the front desk 455: There have long been voices suggesting that three levels of government in Australia is simply impractical. But while state governments are often targeted for not doing enough, it’s the federal government that’s falling short on many key agenda items.

The NSW government’s building and construction reforms have kicked up a gear with draft regulation to clean up the certification system released on Monday.

Here’s what life will look like in 2030 if Australian governments adopt best practice energy standards that are currently on the table for our homes and appliances..

PM Scott Morrison has announced he will tackle plastic recycling. Good. It’s ugly. It’s also politically safe topic thanks to the rapid escalation of concern that a single program, The War on Waste managed to churn up among the mums and dads of everywhere.

The federal government keeps pushing back on taking responsibility for major national infrastructure centred on cities. But there are five good reasons it needs to reassess and take a leadership position.

Environmental upgrade agreements are on the cards as part of the North Sydney Council’s program for reducing greenhouse gas pollution and the cost of living in apartments.

The rejection of the mining company Gloucester Resources Limited’s appeal to develop the Rocky Hill Coal mine represents a landmark legal decision for Aboriginal communities when it comes to protecting sacred lands from mining interests.

There’s not much to get excited about for sustainability in the 2019-20 NSW budget, which was handed down today (Tuesday).

Direct accountability for the waste crisis is the biggest win for sustainability in Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s new ministry in what is otherwise a pretty troubling line up.

An expanded the rooftop solar and storage program, big spending on rail and a crackdown on dodgy energy companies are among the highlights of the 2019-20 Victorian budget. 

The number of jobs in the NSW environmental goods and services sector exceeded that of the state’s agricultural and mining sectors combined, according to recently released research from the NSW Innovation and Productivity Council.

The “climate election” has delivered a harsh lesson for those of us who believe that we are indeed facing a climate emergency. After recent alarming scientific predictions and destructive weather events, one would think the Greens would be in the box seat for gains. 

OPINION: It’s still early days but it’s a move that could well signal a new era for climate change, the environment and sustainability in New South Wales.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s first budget, handed down on Tuesday, left the property industry purring but hasn’t boded well with environmental and social sustainability advocates.

Although most of the conditions are now right for sustainability upgrades to strata buildings, Green Strata president Christine Byrne says there are still major regulatory and cost barriers stopping these retrofits.