is QLD missing the start on the low-carbon revolution?

The following statement by Greg Combet - Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Minister for Industry and Innovation.....

....seems somewhat remote from the actions of the Qld State Government's addictions to fossil fuels (including Coal, Crude Oil & Coal Seam Gas).

We have a head start on low-carbon revolution

Greg Combet posted Wednesday, 14 December 2011

As published in The Australian, Wednesday 14 December 2011

The decision by the UN climate change conference in Durban to pursue a new global agreement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions has profound economic significance for Australia.

For the first time, all of the world's major emitters -- including Australia's two biggest trading partners, the US and China -- have committed to take on legal obligations to reduce carbon pollution. This new agreement, which is to be negotiated by 2015 and come into effect from 2020, will create a new international legal architecture for tackling climate change.

It will replace the Kyoto Protocol's increasingly unsustainable divide between developed and developing economies by bringing all emitters into the international emissions reduction framework.

In contrast to the claims by Tony Abbott and Bob Brown that the outcome was insignificant, countries around the world -- developed and developing -- have welcomed the agreement as a major step forward. The Durban outcome leaves no doubt that all major emitters will be part of a new legal pact on climate change.

Some people have claimed that the 2020 timeframe for a new international legal agreement is too far off and that this will be a "do nothing decade". This could not be further from the truth.

All countries now have a clear signal that there will be a new legal framework to reduce global emissions. The fact that this framework will be backed by legal force cannot be underestimated. It means that all countries will be legally bound to implement measures to reduce carbon pollution.

Those countries with strong domestic climate change policies already in place -- from Europe to China -- have a head start on the low-carbon revolution that will occur this decade and beyond.

The Gillard government's carbon price ensures Australia is ready to meet our domestic and international commitments.

Just imagine if we had waited until 2020 before taking action.

Not only would we miss out on valuable opportunities this decade to build the jobs and industries of the future, we would face a significant economic shock when the new legal framework came into place and we had to achieve emissions cuts overnight. But this is exactly the approach that underpins the Coalition's climate change policies. Abbott thinks that by planting trees and offering taxpayer-funded subsidies to a few polluters, Australia will be well positioned to compete in the future low-carbon world. It is a recipe for economic decline.

The Durban outcome builds on climate action already under way including the pledges of 90 countries to reduce emissions by 2020.

This will create momentum for investments in clean energy and energy efficiency. In addition, the government is providing $1.5 billion to support innovation in Australian industry and manufacturing to seize the opportunities of a low-carbon world. Australia's transformation to a clean energy future is critical to our future competitiveness.

Implementing our clean energy reforms will be essential in the years ahead and central to my new responsibilities as Minister for Industry and Innovation and my continuing role as Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

The outcome in Durban confirms that by moving ahead with these reforms we are moving in step with global action on climate change.

a bridge too far?

I am informed by Transcity that the pedestrian bridge connecting the Brisbane Grammar schools to the Victoria Park Golf Course will be closed for construction activities from mid December 2011 until late January 2012.

Transcity are going to lengthen the span of the pedestrian bridge by 15 metres, effectively extending the structure above the new outbound ICB lanes.

The existing access ways to this bridge make it very difficult for special populations (such as disabled people, the elderly, infants, parents with prams etc), to access the city.

Transcity/Brisbane City Council are extending the pedestrian bridge without addressing any of the access issues.

I understand Qld Rail own sections of the bridge but the new works are clearly the responsibility of Brisbane City Council.

Daft Draft Energy White Paper

Could somebody please explain to our Federal & State politicians that gas is a fossil fuel?

Draft Energy White Paper Released

Martin Ferguson posted Tuesday, 13 December 2011

The Australian Government today released the draft Energy White Paper for public consultation, alongside the release of the 2011 National Energy Security Assessment and the Strategic Framework for Alternative Transport Fuels.

The draft Energy White Paper sets out a series of proposed Commonwealth Government priorities to address challenges confronting Australia’s energy sector.

The draft Energy White Paper identifies four priority areas for further action:

• Strengthening the resilience of Australia’s energy-policy framework;
• Re-invigorating the energy market reform agenda;
• Developing Australia’s critical energy resources – particularly gas; and
• Accelerating clean energy outcomes.

Launching the document in Melbourne, Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP outlined the emerging challenges facing Australia’s energy sector, and reiterated the role of the Energy White paper in laying out the Commonwealth Government's policy framework to address these challenges for the benefit of the community as a whole.

“Over the next two decades, Australia will require massive investment in the gas and electricity sectors – around $240 billion in generation, transmission and distribution,” Minister Ferguson said.

“We need sound regulatory frameworks and confidence from investors to ensure that the necessary investment is delivered, and the White Paper seeks to deliver this stable framework.

“The 2011 National Energy Security Assessment shows that overall Australia has a positive energy security assessment but we must remain vigilant, and the White Paper seeks to establish a more robust policy framework to increase our responsiveness to emerging challenges.

“In a period of significant change, improving the resilience of energy policy is critical. The Government therefore proposes that a strategic review of national energy policy be undertaken every four years, supported by a review every two years of national energy security. This will allow us to assess, and respond as required to emerging strategic market or policy developments in a timely and predictable way.

“The White Paper also focuses on the next round of energy market reform, including further privatisation of energy assets and the removal of retail price regulation to increase efficiencies and remove distortions in markets that deter private sector investment and are harmful to consumers’ interests.

“Further work should also be undertaken to extend energy market governance arrangements and principles to all Australian energy markets.

“In terms of consumers, the Government recognises that the community has experienced a period of rising energy prices. The White Paper recognises the need for greater consumer engagement to improve community understanding of investment and price drivers, which can lead to greater empowerment in terms of making informed decisions around managing energy use and associated costs.

“In a period of significant change, improving the resilience of energy policy is critical. The Government therefore proposes that a strategic review of national energy policy be undertaken every four years, supported by a review every two years of national energy security. This will allow us to assess, and respond as required to emerging strategic market or policy developments in a timely and predictable way.”

Alongside the release of the draft Energy White Paper, and following the passage of legislation giving effect to the carbon price, the Government is also today announcing it will no longer proceed with the introduction of emissions standards or Carbon Capture and Storage Ready requirements for new coal fired power stations.

“With the legislation of a carbon price, the Government has a position that it is best to let the market determine the most efficient investment outcomes within the energy market, carbon price and Renewable Energy Target framework,” Minister Ferguson said.

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism will now begin a period of consultation on the draft Energy White Paper, including information sessions to be held in every state and territory capital city.

Written submissions are invited to be received no later than 16 March 2012.

The Government intends to release the final Energy White Paper around mid 2012.

The draft Energy White Paper and associated material is available atwww.energywhitepaper.ret.gov.au

Oh my Darling

Here is the automated response that I received from some sort of bot, employed by Vicky Darling MP.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for your email concerning the Bimblebox Nature Refuge. The Minister for Environment has asked me to respond on her behalf.

Nature refuges are an important conservation mechanism for the Queensland Government. They are expected to contribute about one-third of the government’s commitment to 20 million hectares of protected area by 2020. Nature refuges hold special value in providing the means by which private landholders can contribute directly and meaningfully to Queensland’s protected areas.

While Queensland has become a national leader in voluntary conservation, the exceptional growth in the Nature Refuges Program has increased the prospect of conflict with other land uses. Conflict between nature refuges and mining is a key issue of concern, particularly given the recent growth in mining exploration in Queensland.

Queensland legislation does not prohibit mineral or petroleum exploration and extraction, nor veto the granting of new rights on nature refuges. However, a nature refuge’s significant conservation values must be addressed on a case-by-case basis in relation to any such proposed activities, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

In addition, the Government is currently exploring a range of options to address this conflict, including tenure amendments, however there are no easy answers.

Your feedback on this issue is of assistance as these discussions continue.

Bimblebox Nature Refuge is located on land that is proposed to be mined as part of the Galilee Coal Project (Northern Export Facility), which is currently undergoing assessment. As this proposal has been declared of State significance (a ‘significant project’), an environmental impact statement (EIS) was developed and submitted to the Coordinator‑General and the Australian Government for evaluation. Public consultation on the EIS was invited from 26 September and the due date for final submissions was extended to 19 December 2011. Further details can be found at:

www.deedi.qld.gov.au/cg/galilee-coal-project-northern-export-facility.html

The Government will not make a decision on this proposal until completion of a rigorous evaluation of the proposal and submissions by the Coordinator‑General and the Australian Government.

Should this project proceed, the proponent will also be required to replace the values that are lost on the property consistent with the requirements of the government’s Biodiversity Offsets Policy. This policy, which commenced on 3 October 2011, protects the long-term viability of Queensland’s most important biodiversity by requiring offsets where impacts from a development cannot be avoided. These biodiversity values include things such as endangered and of concern remnant regional ecosystems, wetlands, essential habitat for protected animals and protected plants.

Offsets provided under the Biodiversity Offsets Policy must achieve an equivalent or better environmental outcome and the environmental values of the offset must be similar to those that are impacted. In this way, offsets represent a positive step forward for both the State’s economy and the government’s continuing commitment to conserving Queensland’s natural heritage for future generations. Further details on the policy, as well as other government offset initiatives can be found at:

www.derm.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/environmental-offsets/environmental-offsets.html

The Minister hopes this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

Administration Officer

Office of the Hon. Vicky Darling MP | Minister for Environment | Member for Sandgate

Department of Environment and Resource Management

www.derm.qld.gov.au

Andrew Fraser - Naughty or Nice?

The Qld Government goes back to a future (of Coal).

The following media release paints Andrew Fraser's vision of supplying coal to the North Pole....

Naughty or nice?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade The Honourable Andrew Fraser 19/12/2011

Northern 'Missing' Link opens up Bowen Basin and Qld's export potential

Acting Premier Andrew Fraser today officially opened the Goonyella to Abbot Point (GAP) rail link marking a new era for coal exports in Queensland.

North of Moranbah to witness the first journey of a loaded coal train on the newly constructed rail line, Mr Fraser said the event was another step towards unlocking the wealth and prosperity of the Bowen Basin for all Queenslanders.

"The 69 km stretch of rail line increases the capacity of Queensland's coal exports to 50 million tonnes per year through the Port of Abbot Point and improves the efficiency and flexibility of our coal export industry," Mr Fraser said.

"This project is a key component of track expansions stretching from Goonyella to Abbot Point which have created an approximately total of 800 jobs and bolstered regional economies in Central Queensland.

"QR National and their alliance partners have delivered this 20-month project under budget and ahead of schedule - despite drastic weather interruptions earlier this year.

"This project exemplifies the drive industry has to develop our resources in response to international appetite by investing in new coal export infrastructure in Queensland.

"Now that QR National is a publically listed company it has the ability to make this type of investment that benefits all Queenslanders, without taxpayers having to foot the bill."

Mr Fraser said that Queensland was an investment magnet with tens of billions of dollars in business investment locked into the economy.

"Private sector investment in the State's rail infrastructure is a huge vote of confidence in the long-term viability of Queensland's resources sector," Mr Fraser said.

"The government has responded to overwhelming private sector demand and is now planning a super-expansion of the Port of Abbot Point.

"The Port of Abbot Point, with a total of nine proposed terminals, is destined to become one of the world's largest export hubs," Mr Fraser said.

Mr Fraser said investment in Queensland's ports and rail systems will drive an enormous economic surge in regional Queensland, creating thousands of jobs for Queenslanders.

"Today as we watch the first loaded coal train run across the Northern Missing Link, we witness a significant milestone in Queensland's 145-year rail history."

Mr Fraser said the GAP Expansion project formed part of an increasing list of investment projects that were transforming Queensland's coal export industry and generating significant economic growth.

In Pursuit of Happiness

In Pursuit of Happiness

The Christmas letter continues.....

This is the sixth installment of a Mills & Boonesque saga about an Elf & a Fairy who settled in the land of Normanby to live happily ever after......

Flood waters inundated the regions surrounding the land of Normanby at the start of another year. The Fairy took in refugees from a West End town. The Bug entertained Elly and B’o. Julie, Judy & Julia entertained three of their sister chooks, while the Elf took part in cleaning up the nearby City.

The changing climate brought with it great loss and sorrow, courtesy of floods and a cyclone. Yet the people of Normanby and the surrounding regions, united in a spirit of community. Armies of volunteers arose to help their fellow citizens. Some folks who could not help directly provided #bakedrelief in the form of meals and love.

It was during the time of the flood, the Elf and the Fairy were blessed with another conception. The clock started ticking for the arrival of a sibling for Bug. Not knowing whether it might be a brother or a sister, the new baby was known as “Happy”.

The Elf was quite happy spending mornings at home with the Fairy and the Bug. He spent afternoons and evenings cleaning the local City, emptying bins, picking up rubbish and cleaning the toilets.

The Bug was a hybrid of the Elf and the Fairy. She continued to spend her days eating; sleeping & singing tunelessly (just like her father). Some days Bug went to day care to refine her skills in the sand pit and caring for dolls & bears. She honed her art skills with chalk on a blackboard and paint just about everywhere. She was fond of bouncing balls and dressing up and listening to stories.

The Fairy spent her days managing the day to day affairs of the family and delivering other people’s babies at the local hospital. The Fairy was a midwife. The Elf was seconded to the local water and poo factory as a Procurement Officer and a Contract Manager, building and repairing water and sewage treatment infrastructure.

On the first day of Spring, “Happy” arrived into the world: a sister for the Bug. There was great joy in the land of Normanby. Unfortunately, Julia the chook met her untimely demise & now lives beneath a rose garden. Bug began to learn lessons of life (and death).

Happy grew.......and grew. Soon happy was almost as big as the Bug. Meanwhile the forces of darkness and evil began to undermine the land of Normanby, constructing a tunnel for infernal smoke emitting machines.

Despite the noise and the dust, the Elf, the Fairy, the Bug and Happy continued their pursuit of happiness.

To be continued.....

Mining hypocrisy

There is no dispute that North Stradbroke Island is a place of outstanding natural beauty enjoyed by generations of Queenslanders, interstate and overseas visitors.

However, there seems to be some hypocrisy in a Government that shuts down sand mining in an area adjacent a large Metropolitan city but allows Clive Palmer to apply for a coal mine lease in the Brimblebox nature Reserve.

The Qld Government is proudly spruiking that the future of Straddie has now been protected for generations to come.

The Qld Government has announced that the end of mining will be fast-tracked, with the largest mine closing in 2019 and all mining ceasing in 2025. To develop a strong sustainable economy for the island, the government is working with a range of stakeholders, including the Quandamooka People, the Straddie Chamber of Commerce, education leaders and tourism industry experts.

For the other side of the story, it is worth checking out Sibelco Australia's website. One could be excused for cynicism.

By the end of this year, 50 per cent of the island will be national park. By 2021, this will increase to 75 per cent and by 2026, 80 per cent of the island will be protected.

The first stage of Naree Budjong Djara National Park covers one-fifth of the island, or over 5000 hectares. Naree Budjong Djara means My Mother Earth to the island’s Traditional Owners—the Quandamooka People.

The national park will be jointly managed by the Quandamooka People and the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

Get involved

The Qld Government says that North Stradbroke Island is in transition towards a strong sustainable economy. Community input is essential in shaping this transition. If you have feedback, suggestions—including how the community should be informed as the strategy develops—or would like to receive updates on the key issues facing the island, have your say:

• phone 1800 194 064 (free call)
• email straddiestrategy@derm.qld.gov.au
• in person at the North Stradbroke Island Information Centre, 7 Stradbroke Place, Dunwich.

Mines to mines

Perhaps if we spend a shit load of money on Education and/or Health, no one will notice the guilt offset. The following story came from the Premier, via the Member for Brisbane - Grace Grace. Premier Anna Bligh has launched a plan to use the State’s resources to fuel the education of the next generation of Queenslanders. The Premier released From Mines to Minds: A proposal to establish a Queensland Education Trust, at West End State School. The paper proposes the establishment of a multi-billion dollar Queensland Education Trust using 50% of future LNG royalties – projected at more than $1.8 billion in the next 10 years alone. “We want to take the wealth from the earth and use it to train the minds of our children,” said the Premier. “We can harness the energy of the decade of prosperity we see before us to create a golden generation that will secure Queensland’s bright future for a century and more.” The Government’s proposed trust could be invested in different ways including; • Individual Trust Accounts for Education – an individual endowment that would mean every newborn child would have a nest egg valued between $7,800 and $9,500 when they turn 18 or; • Dedicated Education Fund: an investment fund where the proceeds are reinvested by Government in education and training initiatives beyond the basics throughout the schooling years and potentially beyond. The Premier said under the Trust account model every Queensland child born on or after July 1, 2012 would receive a savings endowment at birth that could be accessed at age 18. Under the second option the QET would invest up to 50% of LNG royalties as an education ‘future fund’. Under this model the QET would set aside funds for specific initiatives such as; • TAFE and university scholarships for rural, regional and disadvantaged students • International exchange programs • Language program The QET can be the tool we use to build a bright future that will make Queensland the best place in the world to live, raise a family and to fulfil your potential. “In Queensland we are already on the cusp of enormous prosperity with a resources boom unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. “The question now is how we use this prosperity.” The Queensland Government wants to hear from Queensland communities. We want your feedback on the QET by February 17, 2012. You can have your say by writing to us at: Education Trust, PO Box 15185, Brisbane 4000 or email:

	Education.Trust@premiers.qld.gov.au

Feedback and reading of the proposal - From Mines to Minds can be found online at:

	The Premier of Queensland

Speech to Gas Symposium

Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser spoke to an international audience about development of Queensland’s gas resources.

He put the case that in a relatively short period of time, the consensus on our government’s shepherding in of this industry will be regarded as the seminal economic event for our state of the first half of this century.

You can read the entire speech by clicking here.

I hope he is right but I fear that we are developing Coal Seam Gas reserves for Liquefied Natural Gas, at a rate that exceeds our ability to understand the impacts.

We really do not know the impacts of depressurising the aquifers, bringing shit loads of saline water to the surface and/or emitting shit loads of greenhouse gases.

The water may be used in agriculture, industry and/or domestic water supplies for remote communities but the quantity and quality of the product water is highly variable. Water from Coal Seams is not a guaranteed supply.

The water has to be treated. It contains salts and short chain (highly soluble) hydrocarbons. The treatment processes (microfiltration/desalination) are energy intensive. The waste streams (brine) are problematic.

We are still uncertain whether coal seam gas is any better than coal in terms of green house gas generation.

While I am not opposed to CSG, I would like to see the Qld Government force the CSG industry to take the time to do some pilot studies, gather some data & use #csg as a true transition fuel

Coal, Cars and Cows

The following Media release from the Qld Premier demonstrates the Qld Government's commitment to coal, cars and cows....

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction The Honourable Anna Bligh 13/12/2011

Queensland leading Australia on recycling power station emissions

Premier Anna Bligh today inspected an Australian-first project at Tarong Power Station which uses algae to absorb carbon emissions.

Ms Bligh said the Queensland Government had committed $1 million to Phase 1 of the project, which is underway at the South Burnett power station following successful trials of the new technology at a purpose-built pilot facility at James Cook University in Townsville.

"Here we have an example of Queensland innovation and scientific expertise being put to work in an Australian-first project," Ms Bligh said.

"It uses algae to soak up the carbon dioxide emissions from the coal-fired power station, and has the potential to enable a wide range of large emitters to reduce the amount of carbon they release into the atmosphere.

Under a process called Algal Synthesis, captured flue gases from the coal-fired power station are injected into waste water contained in long plastic membranes next to the station.

Algae then grow rapidly in the water, with the captured gases providing carbon dioxide and other nutrients, doubling in quantity every one to two days.

"The algae biomass is then used to make bio fuels which can be used to create valuable products such as livestock feed or oils for transport fuels.

"The search for reliable, affordable, commercial alternatives to oil is now a global effort, and Queensland is an increasingly important player.

"Renewable energy, CSG to LNG, and Bio Fuels are all part of securing a cleaner, greener future for Queensland.

"What's more they are securing our vision for Queensland as the Asia-Pacific hub for new energy sources," the Premier said.

Energy and Water utilities Minister Stephen Robertson said when fully operational, it is anticipated that per hectare per annum, the project will capture up to 700 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 170 cars off the road for a year.

"It is also expected to produce one tonne of algal biomass per day, 120 tonnes per annum of algal oil and 240 tonnes per annum of algal meal.

"The first stage of the one-hectare Tarong Power Station facility is complete, with earthworks finalised, most services connected and vertical growth columns for the algae installed. The project is scheduled to be fully commissioned in 2012."

Mr Robertson said the project was a joint initiative between MBD Energy Limited and Queensland Government-owned Stanwell Corporation Limited, the state's largest power generator.

"As Queensland is one of the biggest coal and gas mining and export regions of the world, the Bligh Government has a keen interest in ensuring that combustion of energy resources produce the lowest levels of atmospheric emissions possible," Mr Robertson said.

"I congratulate Stanwell and MBD Energy for working together on this pioneering project which is about testing and finding real solutions for the global challenge of excess industrial carbon emissions.

"As Water Utilities are part of my Ministerial portfolio responsibilities, I'm also very interested in the fact that this process developed by MBD Energy and its R&D team at James Cook University has the capacity to recycle waste water.

"MBD Energy expects to use the Tarong Power Station display plant as a blueprint for one or more potentially much larger projects that seek to recycle waste flue gases into algae biomass on a commercial scale.

"In order to protect local biodiversity, only strains of micro-algae local to Tarong Power Station have been selected for growing."

Stanwell Chief Executive Officer Helen Gluer said Tarong Power Station was proud to be the first coal-fired power station in Australia to test the technology as part of the MBD Energy trial.

"As an energy company, we are acutely aware of our environmental responsibilities and the need to manage emissions from coal-fired generation while meeting a growing demand for electricity," Ms Gluer said.

"Our partnership with MBD Energy to trial the use of algae to sequester carbon dioxide will yield valuable results to inform an ever-growing body of knowledge in this new and exciting sphere."

MBD Managing Director Andrew Lawson updated the Premier on construction progress during the visit and outlined plans for commissioning the facility and commencing extensive trials beginning next year.

"We will evaluate the system's efficiency in reducing CO₂ emissions and its potential to produce valuable products from the algae, such as livestock feed and oils for making transport fuels," Mr Lawson said.

"Our immediate focus is completion of construction, quickly bringing up production to design capacity and then running feed trials for cattle."

Sustainable Business Weekly QLD Edition [Electricity, Packaging, Compliance, Green & Red Tape]

Qld Electricity Review

An independent review of the QLD Government owned energy corporations has found Qld's electricity network has improved significantly in both security & reliability since it was last reviewed in 2004.

The review headed by Mr Darryl Somerville found network reliability improved 40 per cent over this time & that power outages are now significantly less frequent & shorter in duration.

Over $12 billion has been invested to improve the Qld’s electricity networks since the serious outages experienced prior to the review & in particular during the devastating 2004 storms.

The report also highlighted the importance of the work energy distributors are doing to meet the challenges of ever-increasing peak demand on the Qld network. The review identified a potential $1.5 billion in savings that ENERGEX & Ergon could implement over the current five-year regulatory period (just in time for the next State Election).

The two major areas in which savings can be made are changes to the way the network is planned & lower than forecast electricity demand. These savings will inevitably be passed on & will assist in easing future pressures on electricity bills.

Qld has apparently seen lower than expected electricity demand, perhaps due to the effects of the GFC & because of shifts in customer behaviour due to scare campaigns related to the Carbon Tax.

Packaging & Litter

State Ministers for Environment & Water are looking for feedback about packaging & litter waste.

The Standing Council on Environment & Water has released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on Packaging Impacts for public comment.

The consultation considers options to improve resource recovery & reduce litter associated with a wide range of consumer packaging, including food wrappers & beverage containers.

The consultation provides the opportunity for an informed debate on options to address packaging waste. An extended consultation period over 16 weeks will allow for the Christmas & summer holidays. The Ministers acknowledged the important input of environment groups & industry groups (like ASBG) in formulating the 7 options in the consultation paper.

These options include container deposit schemes, industry-funded schemes that may be co-regulated under the Product Stewardship Act 2011 (Cwth) & nationally consistent Government initiatives.

The analysis includes a base case which recognises existing packaging recovery & litter reduction systems, including the long-standing South Australian container deposit scheme & the implementation of the Northern Territory container deposit scheme; the servicing of most Australian households by kerbside recycling; & the Australian Packaging Covenant. The Council recognised assessment of the costs and benefits of options has many dimensions & cannot be based on quantifiable matters alone.

DERM’s Compliance update

If environmental incidents are not addressed voluntarily by those responsible, the Department of Environment & Resource Management (DERM) may issue environmental protection orders (EPOs) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to ensure that environmental harm is prevented or minimised.

DERM’s Compliance alert 4/2011 includes three case studies demonstrating the significant legal and financial consequences of failing to comply with an EPO, as well as key messages on how to avoid enforcement action.

Red & GreenTape Reduction

The Greentape Reduction project has been established by the Qld Government to streamline, integrate and coordinate regulatory requirements under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) without compromising environmental outcomes. The project will result in savings for business & government of $12.5m each year.

The Environmental Protection (Greentape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 was introduced into Parliament on 26 October 2011. The aim is to achieve key objectives of the Greentape Reduction project.

The Qld State Opposition (led by the Candidate for the seat of Ashgrove) is also targeting red (& green) tape that can be easily removed at no or low cost.

Already Mr Newman has announced that an LNP Government would dump Labor's waste tax & streamline real estate regulations.

One can also have one’s say by emailing suggestions to the Qld Opposition: cutredtape@lnpqld.org.au or join their conversation on Facebook. The results will be compiled & revealed in the new year.

Merry & sustainable Christmas

We wish you a Merry (& Sustainable Christmas). We are currently planning a number of Seminars, Workshops and a Carbon Conference for 2012.

We will kick off the year with a half day seminar on Compliance with Environmental Legislation.

We are also planning a half day seminar on embedding Sustainability into one’s supply chain.

Please let rowan@asbg.net.au know if you have any suggestions for future seminars or newsletter topics.