Queensland to legislate public ownership of energy assets, renewables targets
Queensland’s transition from a reliance on coal-fired power to renewables has taken a step forward with the state government tabling a new bill in parliament that locks in its commitments to public ownership in the energy system and renewable energy targets.
High Court rules Victoria’s EV tax is ‘invalid’
Victoria’s High Court has deemed the Victorian government’s tax on electric vehicles “invalid”, saying Australia’s Constitution enshrines that only the Commonwealth government has the power to enforce such taxes.
Regulator dismisses community dispute of VNI-West interconnector
The Australian Energy Regulator has rejected a community group’s challenge to the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West, or VNI West, transmission project.
Queensland reforms hydrogen pipeline laws
The Queensland Parliament has passed new legislation that will see hydrogen pipelines regulated in the same way as fossil fuel gases, creating clearer regulatory pathways and safety assessments for hydrogen projects.
‘Australia’s largest battery’: Equis’ 2.4 GWh battery in Melbourne secures federal approval
One of the world’s largest batteries at 1.2 GW / 2.4 GWh has been approved by Australia’s federal government for a site in Melbourne’s northwest.
Brookfield’s $18 billion bid for Origin approved by ACCC
Australia’s antitrust watchdog has approved Brookfield’s takeover bid for Origin Energy, clearing the way for shareholders to vote on one of Australia’s largest recent corporate buyouts.
WA ushers in major reforms to support transition on its main island grid
A package of major regulatory and market reforms designed to support Western Australia’s energy transformation have gone live. The changes relate to the state’s main islanded grid, known as the SWIS.
Australia’s most recognisable solar recycler handed windup notice by Victorian court
One of Australia’s best known solar recycling companies, Reclaim PV, has been handed down a windup notice by Victoria’s Supreme Court. The company’s insolvency highlights the deep issues of solar recycling and the complexity of trying to create circularity in an overwhelmingly linear approach.
Report exposes Australia’s biggest fossil fuel subsidy and how mining industry could be better served
A new report by Climate Energy Finance has revealed Australia’s diesel Fuel Tax Credit Scheme disincentivises growth in future industries and will cost taxpayers $37 billion (USD 23.8b) in lost tax revenue by 2030. The report also illustrates how capping these rebates represents a multifaceted advantage for Australian manufacturing of low and zero-emission mining vehicles.
WA lithium miner backs US giant’s $6.6 billion takeover bid, sparks unusual trading activity
The board of Australian lithium developer Liontown Resources has backed a refreshed $6.6 billion (USD 4.3 billion) bid from US company Albemarle Corp., the world’s largest lithium producer. Since then, Liontown has seen a massive spike in trading, with speculation about it being linked to Australia’s richest person.
