Environment
Electric vehicle fee could throttle record adoption
9 April
An annual fee for driving electric vehicles could put the brakes on their record sales in Australia, with almost one in three households saying it would change their purchase intentions. Working families in outer suburbs were most likely to be...[Read More]
More records loom as fuel crunch turbocharges EV sales
9 April
Australians have raced to secure electric vehicles during the Middle East war-driven fuel crisis, near-doubling sales to set a national record. Motorists bought more than 15,800 new electric cars during March, according to figures released by the...[Read More]
Discount loans to rev up Aussie electric vehicle market
1 April
Demand for electric cars could get a second boost with the launch of a $100 million scheme offering discounted loans on low-emission vehicles. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation released details of the multimillion-dollar program on Wednesday...[Read More]
Fuel, fertiliser shortages could deliver barren harvest
1 April
Australia’s regional and rural businesses will face a triple threat from fuel, fertiliser and interest rate changes over the coming months, but can fight back with investments in renewable energy and artificial intelligence. NAB issued the advice...[Read More]
Bumpy path predicted for self-driving cars in Australia
26 March
Autonomous cars could slash transport pollution by driving more efficiently, avoiding traffic snarls and reducing the need for car parks. But with the wrong policy settings, the technology could undo those savings by putting more cars on the road,...[Read More]
Free midday power just the start for energy equity
25 March
The allure of free daytime power has brought savings-motivated Australians to energy expert Mamoon Reza’s door. Akin to power happy hour, the Solar Sharer policy announced in 2025 has been pitched as a win for renters, apartment dwellers and...[Read More]
AI crocodile detection system comes with warning
25 March
An AI detection system is hoped to make a splash by dramatically improving safety at swimming spots and boat ramps across Australia’s crocodile-infested northern waterways. But its creators warn it can only identify crocodiles above the waterline...[Read More]
Renewable energy project may help blow down power bills
19 March
Offshore wind farms could deliver significant savings for Australian households, with some consumers seeing $151 cut from their annual electricity bills. The savings would come despite the significant up-front investment needed to build wind...[Read More]
Aussie drivers divided over petrol vs electric future
18 March
Almost two in five Australians are considering an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next car purchase, but many could change their minds if the government puts the brakes on a tax discount. The Australian Finance Industry Association revealed the...[Read More]
High-power pit stop: quantum batteries could rev up EVs
18 March
Next-generation batteries Australian researchers are developing could potentially recharge electric cars faster than petrol vehicles fill up and top up smartphone instantaneously. The CSIRO’s quantum battery research team made the predictions on...[Read More]
Postcode where more drivers plug into electric car cuts
18 March
Ending a tax exemption for electric vehicles could unfairly punish families outside major metropolitan areas who are dealing with longer commutes and are most likely to maximise the tax cut. The National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging...[Read More]
Scientists make Parkinson’s drug from plastic bottles
18 March
Scientists have discovered a way of making a drug for Parkinson’s disease from used plastic bottles, saying it shows how waste materials can be “reimagined as valuable resources”. Developed by a team at the University of Edinburgh, the...[Read More]
Energy rating report card urged for all Aussie homes
11 March
All Australian homes should receive a score out of 10 for energy efficiency before they can be sold or rented, experts say, as part of an expansion to a national assessment program. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, which is used to rate...[Read More]
Rice could be key ingredient to cutting steel emissions
11 March
Leftover rice could be the key ingredient to halving carbon emissions from iron and steel production, according to a trial led by Australian researchers. The CSIRO and Indian Institute of Science revealed the findings on Tuesday from tests in which...[Read More]
Compact homes unlocking cheaper, cleaner city living
5 March
In a time of climate change and strained housing affordability, sometimes it pays to think small. At just 50 square metres, the apartments and townhouses inside the Two Sisters development in North Melbourne are far smaller than the 236 sq m average...[Read More]