This monthly Live page is a little different. We are tracking the Federal Election news stories regarding climate and Environment from late March through April to the 3rd May Election Day.

• Labor achieves landslide win in 2025 Federal election on May 3. Strong public repudiation of Dutton’s Coalition nuclear plan and endorsement of renewables surge and energy transition. Most Teal independents hold their ground, but Greens set to lose seats in Brisbane, while Senate vote remains strong and returns 6 Greens Senators. But coal and gas expansion expected to continue under Labor Government.
• More record Flooding in Queensland with large stock loses which will flow through to increased meat prices and cost of living. Read how climate change adds to Cost of Living

See our Scorecard page, or watch the local Wills climate candidates forum

Timeline

6 May 2025 – Australians choose batteries over nuclear after election fought on energy https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-06/federal-election-shows-voters-support-renewables-over-nuclear/105252888

6 May 2025 – Australia has backed a rapid shift to renewable energy – and given Labor a chance on climate. How will it act? by Adam Morton https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2025/may/06/australia-has-backed-a-rapid-shift-to-renewable-energy-and-given-labor-a-chance-on-climate-how-will-it-act

5 May 2025 – Climate denial now electoral poison, with voters expecting Labor to go harder on climate pollution https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/voters-expecting-labor-harder-climate-pollution/

5 May 2025 – Nuclear fallout: Coalition’s energy policy proved toxic to voters https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/nuclear-fallout-coalition-s-energy-policy-proved-toxic-to-voters-20250504-p5lwcp.html

5 May 2025 – Liberal candidate Andrew Constance, who campaigned against Labor’s renewable energy platform, has conceded defeat, admitting Australians have spoken on the energy transition and his party needs to be “pro-environment”. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-05/andrew-constance-concedes-gilmore-federal-election/105254130

5 May 2025 – Nationals MPs ‘100 per cent’ back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects loss https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-05/nationals-keep-nuclear-coalition-review-election-2025-loss/105253116

4 May 2025 – Nuclear threat extinguished, but much work needed to protect nature and climate https://www.acf.org.au/nuclear-threat-extinguished-but-much-work-needed-to-protect-nature-and-climate

3 May 2025 – Coalition nuked https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/coalition-nuked/

2 May 2025 – A climate election? The Coalition wants to take Australia backwards, while Labor is standing still https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/02/climate-crisis-australia-federal-election-2025-coalition-labor

2 May 2025 – Labor and Coalition accused of being on fossil fuel ‘unity ticket’ as thermal coal exports hit record high. Australia shipped 57m tonnes of coal for burning in overseas power plants between October and December last year, the most recorded for a three-month period https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/01/labor-and-coalition-accused-of-being-on-fossil-fuel-unity-ticket-as-thermal-coal-exports-hit-record-high

2 May 2025 – As the world cooks, why have our political leaders gone cold on global warming? https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/as-the-world-cooks-why-have-our-political-leaders-gone-cold-on-global-warming-20250501-p5lvmk.html

1 May 2025 – Australians’ support for nuclear power ban rises despite Dutton’s best efforts to sell atomic future, survey finds https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/01/australians-support-for-nuclear-power-ban-rises-despite-duttons-best-efforts-to-sell-atomic-future-survey-finds

30 April 2025 – Leaked document shows two threatened species could be wiped out at Middle Arm development site. Exclusive: Conservation advocates say assessment shows controversial NT project ‘shouldn’t get past the starting gun’ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/29/leaked-document-shows-two-threatened-species-could-be-wiped-out-at-middle-arm-development-site

30 April 2025 – Climate crisis could kill off Australian music festivals, report warns. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/30/climate-crisis-could-kill-off-australian-music-festivals-report-warns

29 April 2025 – Our emissions policy is toothless, counterintuitive and confusing. That’s by design. Labor’s safeguard mechanism is a shockingly deceptive piece of industry greenwashing disguised as climate regulation. It has to go. https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/04/29/emissions-policy-climate-change-toothless-confusing/

28 April 2025 – Greens pledge to block “climate destroying” new coal and gas projects in hung parliament. In a statement on Monday, the Greens say they will use the minor party’s bargaining power in the case of a hung parliament to demand that federal energy and climate minister Chris Bowen use existing powers under the federal Safeguard Mechanism to put a “hard cap” on pollution from new coal and gas mines. https://reneweconomy.com.au/greens-pledge-to-block-climate-destroying-new-coal-and-gas-projects-in-hung-parliament/

28 April 2025 – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission have been asked to investigate fossil fuel lobby group Australians for Natural Gas for engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct. https://reneweconomy.com.au/brazen-example-of-astroturfing-accc-asked-to-investigate-pro-gas-campaign-group/

27 April 2025 – The climate denialists in the Saltbush Club are pivoting from climate denial to anti-renewables campaigns https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/26/why-australias-most-prominent-climate-deniers-have-stopped-talking-about-the-climate-ntwnfb

26 April 2025 – A voice to Australia’s silent climate majority. The majority of people want action on climate but think they are in the minority, and therefore keep silent. A new global media campaign seeks to give voice to the world’s silent climate majority. https://climatesafety.info/a-voice-to-australias-silent-climate-majority/

24 April 2025 – Back to the fuel guzzlers? Coalition plans to end EV tax breaks would hobble the clean transport transition https://theconversation.com/back-to-the-fuel-guzzlers-coalition-plans-to-end-ev-tax-breaks-would-hobble-the-clean-transport-transition-255211

24 April 2025 – Carbon Brief profile of Australian election – Australia election 2025: Where parties stand on climate change, energy and nature https://www.carbonbrief.org/australia-election-2025-where-parties-stand-on-climate-change-energy-and-nature/

24 April 2025 – New report: Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan to cost $4.3 trillion https://michaelwest.com.au/new-report-peter-duttons-nuclear-power-plan-to-cost-4-3-trillion/

23 April 2025 – Dutton reverses pledge on EV tax break two days after saying he would keep it https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-reverses-pledge-on-ev-tax-break-two-days-after-he-said-he-would-keep-it-20250423-p5lttb.html

23 April 2025 – Trade unionists, conservationists and church groups unite against Dutton’s nuclear plan https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/23/peter-dutton-coalition-nuclear-reactors-plan-risks-waste

23 April 2025 – Nationals MP accused of ‘fobbing off’ Gippsland constituents concerned by Dutton’s nuclear plan https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/23/nationals-mp-darren-chester-gippsland-australia-federal-election-2025-nuclear-policy

23 April 2025 – What would change your mind about climate change? We asked 5,000 Australians – here’s what they told us. Climate change may not be the headline issue in this federal election campaign. But it’s on the ballot nonetheless, embedded in debates over how to power Australia, jobs and the cost of living. If we want public support for meaningful climate action, we can’t just shout louder. We have to speak smarter. https://theconversation.com/what-would-change-your-mind-about-climate-change-we-asked-5-000-australians-heres-what-they-told-us-254329

23 April 2025 – These 3 climate misinformation campaigns are operating during the election run-up. Here’s how to spot them https://theconversation.com/these-3-climate-misinformation-campaigns-are-operating-during-the-election-run-up-heres-how-to-spot-them-253441

23 April 2025 – More than 80% of the world’s reefs hit by bleaching after worst global event on record https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/23/coral-reef-bleaching-worst-global-event-on-record

22 April 2025 – Santos wins final approval for Barossa gas project as environment advocates condemn ‘climate bomb’ https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/22/santos-barossa-field-offshore-gas-project-final-approval-environment-climate-bomb-claims-ntwnfb

22 April 2025 – “Today, the Barossa Production Operations Environment Plan was approved by the federal offshore petroleum regulator NOPSEMA, marking the final and most significant environmental approval for Santos’ offshore Barossa gas project.
This approval permits Santos to emit 274 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the 25 year life of the project. Santos’ Barossa project has been described as one of the dirtiest gas projects in the world due to its high carbon dioxide content.” – NT Enviro Centre press release https://www.ecnt.org.au/climate_disaster_santos_toxic_barossa_gas_project_given_the_green_light

22 April 2025 – Spiral of silence’: climate action is very popular, so why don’t people realise it? Researchers find 89% of people around the world want more to be done, but mistakenly assume their peers do not. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/22/spiral-of-silence-climate-action-very-popular-why-dont-people-realise

22 April 2025 – Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free writes US Science Historian Naomi Oreskes “The vacuum Trump has created on climate policy provides a chance for other countries to lead. Australia has much more to gain from the clean-energy future than it stands to lose – and your climate action could be pivotal.” https://theconversation.com/fossil-fuel-companies-poisoned-the-well-of-public-debate-with-climate-disinformation-heres-how-australia-can-break-free-251221

19 April 2025 – New offshore gas from Victoria approved. Caretaker of the Fossils: Beach approval takes government’s gas and coal tally to 17. https://michaelwest.com.au/beach-approval-takes-governments-gas-and-coal-tally-to-17/

19 April 2025 – Great Barrier Reef bleaching turns up heat in key Coalition seat. It is the 6th mass bleaching event in 10 years, with the seat of Leichardt on a knife edge with current LNP MP retiring. https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/great-barrier-reef-bleaching-turns-up-heat-in-key-coalition-seat-20250418-p5lsrp.html

17 April 2025 – The real cost of living fix is renewables, not nuclear https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-real-cost-of-living-fix-is-renewables-not-nuclear-20250416-p5ls6g.html

17 April 2025 – Whole ecosystems ‘decimated’ by huge rise in UK wildfires. Blazes in some parts of the country are up by 1,200% since last year, as charities warn about effects on wildlife. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/16/whole-ecosystems-decimated-by-huge-rise-in-uk-wildfires

16 April 2025 – ‘Let Rome burn’: Coalition MP Colin Boyce says, allowing blackouts the only way to turn voters off renewable energy. Power outages in major cities would help build opposition to climate policies, says climate denialist LNP MP Colin Boyce, MP for the Queensland electorate of Flynn. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/16/let-rome-burn-coalition-mp-colin-boyce-says-blackouts-the-only-way-to-turn-voters-off-renewable-energy

16 April 2025 – Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan could lead to major electricity shortages, analysis says. Coalition’s proposal overestimates the reliability of Australia’s ageing coal generators, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis says https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/16/peter-duttons-nuclear-power-plan-could-lead-to-major-electricity-shortages-analysis-says

15 April 2025 – The electorates most exposed to climate risk revealed. Note: Over 1100 properties in Wills at high risk. https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/how-risk-of-climate-disasters-is-leaving-suburbs-looking-like-a-boxer-s-mouth-20250414-p5lrpe.html

15 April 2025 – Coalition scores just 1/100 points for environment and climate policies from conservation organisation. Australian Conservation Foundation says opposition has ‘failed every single test’ while Labor passes with 54% and Greens achieve 98% https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/15/coalition-scores-just-1100-points-for-environment-and-climate-policies-from-conservation-organisation

15 April 2025 – Victorian Liberal leader distances state party from Peter Dutton’s nuclear proposal: ‘Our focus is gas’ https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/15/victorian-liberal-leader-brad-battin-distances-state-party-from-peter-dutton-nuclear-proposal

15 April 2025 – Victorian Nationals open to working with a Dutton government to build nuclear reactor https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/15/victorian-nationals-open-to-working-with-a-dutton-government-to-build-nuclear-reactor

15 April 2025 – The Coalition has attacked the teals for voting with the Greens in parliament. What does the data show? https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/15/how-teals-independent-crossbenchers-voted-federal-parliament-

15 April 2025 – New Climate Council report. At our front door: Escalating climate risks for Aussies homes. The climate crisis is at our front door with more than two million properties already at moderate to high risk of worsening extreme weather driven by climate pollution.
HIGH RISK: Our analysis shows 652,424 properties (4.4% or one in 23) across the country are already at High Risk in 2025 from one or more hazards – properties for which insurance is often already unaffordable or unavailable.
MODERATE RISK: Another 1.55 million properties (10.4%) nationally are at Moderate Risk – for which insurance costs will be abnormally high. That’s one in 10.
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/escalating-climate-risks-for-aussies-homes/

14 April 2025 – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he will make Adelaide the host city for the COP31 summit in 2026 if Australia’s joint bid with the Pacific region is successful.

14 April 2025 – Most bike lanes in inner Melbourne have less than 40% tree cover – that’ll get worse, new maps show. Fine example of silo planning, failing to recognise real world needs with walking and cycling with urban heat. https://theconversation.com/most-bike-lanes-in-inner-melbourne-have-less-than-40-tree-cover-thatll-get-worse-new-maps-show-253222 Note: Climate Action Merribek in our submission on Victoria’s climate strategy recommended: “Assess main walking and cycling routes for heat exposure and existing shade to plan for adding canopy shade to improve thermal comfort”

13 April 2025 – Community groups furious Coalition nuclear plan would go ahead even if locals oppose it https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/13/community-groups-furious-coalition-nuclear-plan-would-go-ahead-even-if-locals-oppose-it

11 April 2025 – It’s time renters got a fair go on solar – Greens policy shows the way https://reneweconomy.com.au/its-time-renters-got-a-fair-go-on-solar-greens-policy-shows-the-way/ See Greens Media release

11 April 2025 – Coalition plan to dump fuel efficiency penalties would make Australia a global outlier https://theconversation.com/coalition-plan-to-dump-fuel-efficiency-penalties-would-make-australia-a-global-outlier-254386

11 April 2025 – Peter Dutton’s climate policy backslide threatens Australia’s clout in the Pacific – right when we need it most https://theconversation.com/peter-duttons-climate-policy-backslide-threatens-australias-clout-in-the-pacific-right-when-we-need-it-most-254385

11 April 2025 – Program asks how Western Sydney school students would solve urban heat https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-11/how-western-sydney-school-students-would-solve-urban-heat/105161400

11 April 2025 – UN approves global emissions fee for shipping – but deal falls short of climate ambition. “Starting in 2028, ships will have to pay a fee if their emissions exceed certain limits. The measure is part of a broader plan to reduce shipping emissions to net zero by around 2050. The mechanism is expected to deliver just an 8 per cent reduction in absolute emissions by 2030, according to researchers, well below the IMO’s own target of 20 per cent.” https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/shipping-emissions-carbon-tax-b2731601.html

“Negotiators at the UN’s shipping body (IMO) managed to clinch a deal that might save multilateralism for another day, but will likely lead to the destruction of rainforests by promoting first-generation biofuels, says T&E. The measure also falls short of delivering IMO’s own decarbonisation targets set only two years ago, T&E’s analysis shows. “https://www.transportenvironment.org/articles/un-shipping-agreement-a-victory-for-multilateralism-but-a-failure-for-the-climate

11 April 2025 – Just 9.5% of plastic made in 2022 used recycled material, Global study shows. Of the 400m tonnes of plastic produced over the course of 2022, just under 38m tonnes (9.5%) was produced from recycled plastic, 98% of the remaining 362m tonnes was produced from fossil fuels, predominantly coal and oil. There is a significant increase in the amount of plastic being disposed of by incineration rather than recycling, with just 27.9% of plastic waste disposed of in 2022 actually being recycled. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/10/just-95-of-plastic-made-in-2022-used-recycled-material-study-shows

11 April 2025 – What does Coalition’s plan to end Rewiring the Nation Fund mean for VNI West? Despite announcements that there will be “no new transmission lines needed” under a Coalition government, modelling shows its plans require 6,500 kilometres of new lines. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-11/coalition-rewiring-the-nation-vni-west-future-plan-end/105130936

11 April 2025 – Coal-funded Australians for Prosperity deletes posts after AEC intervention. Australians for Prosperity, has received $725,000 in donations from Coal Australia, according to electoral records https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-11/australians-for-prosperity-removes-posts-after-aec-intervention/105156612

10 April 2025 – Greens pledge $275 million to help cut fossil fuel sponsorships and boost renewables’ visibility https://commsdeclare.org/2025/04/10/greens-policy-to-power-clean-energy-marketing-revolution/

10 April 2025 – Coalition confirms it is committed to Paris climate agreement, hours after refusing to rule out withdrawing. Shadow climate and energy minister Ted O’Brien releases statement after ambiguous stance at debate with Labor’s Chris Bowen. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/10/coalition-paris-climate-agreement-ted-obrien-chris-bowen-federal-election-energy-debate

10 April 2025 – The Coalition prepares to soften Australia’s 2030 climate target, while reaffirming its commitment to the Paris Agreement https://theconversation.com/the-coalition-prepares-to-soften-australias-2030-climate-target-while-reaffirming-its-commitment-to-the-paris-agreement-249945

10 April 2025 – Coalition nuclear plan will plough $58bn wrecking ball through renewable energy projects, analysis warns. Going nuclear will cost ‘real dollars for farmers, real dollars for country towns and real blue-collar jobs’, Clean Energy Council says https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/10/coalition-nuclear-plan-will-plough-58bn-wrecking-ball-through-renewable-energy-projects-analysis-warns

9 April 2025 – Dutton’s energy plan could make Australians pay more for gas, not less, expert warns. Victorian Energy Policy Centre director says constraining exports would be ‘seismic policy shift’ https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/09/duttons-energy-plan-could-make-australians-pay-more-for-gas-not-less-expert-warns

9 April 2025 – The Coalition’s domestic gas plan would lower prices – just not very much https://theconversation.com/the-coalitions-domestic-gas-plan-would-lower-prices-just-not-very-much-254194

9 April 2025 – Not enough water available for Coalition’s nuclear proposal to run safely, report finds. Analyst says nuclear is the ‘thirstiest’ energy source, as report commissioned by Liberal supporters throws doubt on plan’s feasibility https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/09/not-enough-water-available-for-coalitions-nuclear-proposal-to-run-safely-report-finds

7 April 2025 – Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and WWF-Australia new report: Our renewable future: A plan for people and nature https://www.acf.org.au/our-renewable-future, that charts a way forward towards a future where the renewable energy transition works in harmony with nature.

7 April 2025 – Australia is in an extinction crisis – why isn’t it an issue at this election? Some of the country’s most loved native species, including the koala and the hairy-nosed wombat, are on the brink. Is this their last chance at survival? https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/07/australia-is-in-an-extinction-crisis-why-isnt-it-an-issue-at-this-election

6 April 2025 – The 2024 report of the MJA–Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia emerging as a hotspot for litigation. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/mja2.52616

“exposure to heatwaves is growing in Australia, increasing the risk of heat stress and other health threats such as bushfires and drought. Our analyses also highlight continuing deficiencies in Australia’s response to the health and climate change threat. A key component of Australia’s capacity to respond to bushfires, its number of firefighting volunteers, is in decline, dropping by 38 442 people (17%) in just seven years. Australia’s total energy supply remains dominated by fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), and although energy from coal decreased from 2021 to 2023, energy from oil increased, and transport energy from petrol grew substantially in 2021–22 (the most recent year for which data are available). Greenhouse gas emissions from Australia’s health care sector in 2021 rose to their highest level since 2010.”

5 April 2025 – Labor targets cost of living and climate with $2.3bn household battery pledge. Subsidy will be for 30 per cent of the purchase and installation cost of a new home battery with new or existing rooftop solar panels, one per residence. The discount on offer would decline until 2030. While one in three homes have solar panels, only one in 40 households have batteries due to the high up-front cost, averaging around $14,000 per unit. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/05/labor-targets-cost-of-living-and-climate-with-23bn-household-battery-pledge See ALP policy statement

4 April 2025 – “It’s about survival:” Pacific islands slam Coalition threat to drop bid to co-host COP31 https://reneweconomy.com.au/its-about-survival-pacific-islands-slam-coalition-threat-to-drop-bid-to-co-host-cop31/

4 April 2025 – Coalition seeks to redefine methane gas as a mineral, to take advantage of Critical Minerals Strategy and more subsidies for gas sector. https://reneweconomy.com.au/coalition-leans-on-absurd-gas-definition-for-fossil-subsidy-bonanza/

4 April 2025 – Coalition pollster Freshwater Strategy working with ‘astroturfing’ pro-gas group https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-04/coalition-pollster-working-with-australians-for-natural-gas/105129478

4 April 2025 – This election, what are Labor and the Coalition offering on the energy transition, climate adaptation and emissions? https://theconversation.com/this-election-what-are-labor-and-the-coalition-offering-on-the-energy-transition-climate-adaptation-and-emissions-253430

3 April 2025 – ‘Same shit, different year’: Australia records hottest 12 months and warmest March on record https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/03/australia-records-hottest-12-months-and-warmest-march-weather-on-record

See BOM: Australia in March 2025

• 12 months ending in March 2025 averaged 1.61C above average – the hottest of any 12-month period, beating the previous 1.51C anomaly set from January to December 2019
• March record heat Anomaly of 2.41C easily beat previous 2.03C mark set in 2019.
• Hottest overnight temperatures for March, at 2.53C anomaly above the 30-year average between 1961 and 1990, beating the previous 2.11C mark set in 2016.
• Warmest spring-summer on record in 2024-25, with the six months from September to February at 1.98C above average. The previous record was 1.68C set in 2019-2020
• New South Wales and South Australia had their hottest March months on record for average temperatures. Victoria had its second-hottest month.
• Western Australia had its hottest March for average temperatures, minimum temperatures and maximum temperatures.

3 April 2025 – Climate Council released its election report and scorecard of Australia’s biggest political parties: ‘Climate Crossroads: Progress, Politics and a Pivotal Election’. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/climate-crossroads-progress-politics-pivotal-election/

3 April 2025 – Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer. Action urgently needed to save the conditions under which markets – and civilisation itself – can operate, says senior Allianz figure https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/03/climate-crisis-on-track-to-destroy-capitalism-warns-allianz-insurer

2 April 2025 – Australians want nature protected. These 3 environmental problems should be top of the next government’s to-do list https://theconversation.com/australians-want-nature-protected-these-3-environmental-problems-should-be-top-of-the-next-governments-to-do-list-253336

2 April 2025 – Greens promise to push government to spend 1% of budget on environment if they hold balance of power https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/02/australian-election-2025-greens-albanese-federal-epa-environment-adam-bandt

2 April 2025 – Meat price rises likely as Queensland floods cause massive stock losses. Climate change is not mentioned but it is one of the drivers for record flooding like this event, that may affect meat prices for up to 2-3 years. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-02/meat-prices-rise-after-outback-flooding/105121036

2 April 2025 – Opposition to axe government’s new-car emissions fines. Peter Dutton will reportedly repeal penalties for carmakers who sell vehicles which exceed new emissions targets. https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/opposition-to-axe-governments-new-car-emissions-fines-report
See Responses from Climate Council

2 April 2025 – Coalition has to backtrack on its transmission clawback. Peter Dutton’s claim a Coalition government would claw back funding allocated to Labor’s $19bn Rewiring the Nation program have been blunted says The Australian $

2 April 2025 – Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots spends big on misleading ad from two-decade-old documentary https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-02/clive-palmer-trumpets-of-patriot-misleading-election-ad/105123094

1 April 2025 – Under a Coalition government, the fate of Australia’s central climate policy, the Safeguard Mechanism, hangs in the balance https://theconversation.com/under-a-coalition-government-the-fate-of-australias-central-climate-policy-hangs-in-the-balance-253426

1 April 2025 – Average person will be 40% poorer if world warms by 4C, new research shows. Experts say previous economic models underestimated impact of global heating – as well as likely ‘cascading supply chain disruptions’ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/01/average-person-will-be-40-poorer-if-world-warms-by-4c-new-research-shows

31 March 2025 – Rain records to fall in Queensland with Townsville to set new annual high – in April https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/31/australia-weather-forecast-queensland-nsw-adelaide-perth-bom

• Australia: March 1 at 38.7C was Warmest March day on record for Australia
• Adelaide: driest December to March since 1963-64, driest on record for Adelaide airport
• Perth: run of six days in a row above 35C, equalling all-time March record for metropolitan area
• Townsville: Rainfall at Townsville airport at 2.35 metres for year so far, just 50mm shy of city’s wettest year on record, when 2.4 metres recorded over a 12 month period in 2000.
• Insurance Council of Australia calls for federal funding for local governments to improve flood mapping, as part of a pre-election policy platform. “Flooding is Australia’s most costly natural peril,”

31 March 2025 – Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would withdraw Australia’s bid to co-host next year’s global climate summit if the Coalition wins the federal election. https://theconversation.com/hosting-the-un-climate-summit-is-far-from-madness-heres-how-australia-stands-to-benefit-253423

30 March 2025 – Scientists say ‘devastating’ Ningaloo Reef coral bleaching puts ancient colonies at risk https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-30/ningaloo-reef-coral-bleaching-curtin-uni-scientists-survey/105098464

30 March 2025 – The offshore wind debate could influence this federal election and it’s already an ‘absolute blood-fest’ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-30/illawarra-offshore-wind-farm-misinformation-in-federal-election/105097852

30 March 2025 – Albanese willing to direct gas exporters to supply Australia ‘if needed’ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-30/albanese-gas-reservation-policy-will-direct-if-needed/105113746

29 March 2025 – Is Australia’s “carbon neutral” scheme being abandoned? https://www.tempestsandterawatts.com/p/is-australias-carbon-neutral-scheme

29 March 2025 – Labor has delayed Woodside Browse Gas extension approval until rock art study released after the election. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-29/federal-government-reviews-rock-art-monitoring-study/105098644

29 March 2025 – Dutton refuses to release gas price cut modelling as protesters target his campaign https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/29/peter-dutton-refuses-to-release-energy-price-cut-model-as-protesters-target-federal-election-campaign

28 March 2025 – More gas and lower prices ‘years away’ as experts poke holes in Coalition’s gas reservation policy https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-28/experts-poke-holes-in-the-coalition-s-gas-reservation-plans/105077956

28 March 2025 – Election Watch: Dutton’s Fuel Excise reduction anti-EV subsidy is a policy car crash https://thedriven.io/2025/03/28/election-watch-duttons-anti-ev-subsidy-is-a-policy-car-crash/

27 March 2025 – Dutton unveils gas reservation scheme and vows to sack 41,000 public service workers in budget reply https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/27/peter-dutton-budget-reply-speech-gas-reservation-scheme-public-service-cuts

27 March 2025 – Dutton’s pledge to fast-track North West Shelf could expose it to legal challenge https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-27/dutton-gas-fast-track-pledge-legal-challenge/105100226

27 March 2025 – We calculated how much Dutton’s excise cut would save you on fuel – and few will save as much as promised https://theconversation.com/we-calculated-how-much-duttons-excise-cut-would-save-you-on-fuel-and-few-will-save-as-much-as-promised-253214

25 March 2025 – Federal Budget 2025 through a climate and sustainability lens https://climateactionmerribek.org/2025/03/25/federal-budget-2025-through-a-climate-and-sustainability-lens/

25 March 2025 – Australians deserve answers on climate before they vote. Here are five things we still don’t know https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2025/mar/25/australians-deserve-answers-on-climate-before-they-vote-here-are-five-things-we-still-dont-know

• How will more gas lead to lower prices?
• How will Australia’s broken environment laws be fixed?
• What evidence is there that gas exports are cleaner than coal?
• How rapidly will Australia cut emissions at home?
• Does anything about the Coalition’s policy add up?

Political comment Authorisation
Please see our Authorisation statement