Environmental Impact

After a five-year wait, conservationists say draft regulations on second-generation rat baits do not go far enough.

The powers allow WA Premier Roger Cook and a bureaucrat to sign off on projects with "strategic or economic significance", sparking concerns about the wide-ranging powers and potential environmental impact.

It was an adventure into the unknown. From the surface all that could be seen was a small opening. The ABC has been given exclusive access to newly-discovered caves on South Australia's Kangaroo Island.

WA's planning authorities approve the construction of two new ferry terminals at Applecross and Matilda Bay as part of the state government's expansion of Swan River ferry services.

Authorities say the "best signs" in a "long time" have been observed in the latest round of monitoring of the state's algal bloom crisis.

As WA's state development laws make their way through parliament, critics are worried about environmental approvals and concentration of power, but the government insists the changes mean more transparency.

Open water divers say underwater visibility has improved and marine life is returning to some areas off South Australia's coast. Experts say it's a positive sign, but warn it's "way too early" to say the environment is recovering from the state's algal bloom.

The stark beauty of Australia's protected APY Lands is alive with ancient songlines and culture. But Elders see a need for change to secure the future of today's children.

Indonesia's government says it will summon eight companies over their suspected role in worsening the scale of floods and landslides that have killed more than 700 people. But environmental groups say authorities are hypocritical and partly to blame for the destruction.

South Australia's public health chief says there is a need for more data analysis to determine whether there has been an increase in respiratory illness linked to the state's algal bloom.

Strict bans limiting commercial and recreational fishing in Perth and WA are announced in an effort to save some under-threat fish species from the brink of collapse.

The long-awaited decision for a Northern Water project has arrived — but it has come with environmental contention.

Locals and marine life experts raise concern over an increased amount of reptiles washing up on WA's north-west shores, with reports of stranded sea snakes and turtles being spotted on beaches.

A plan for the Northern Territory to be among the first places in the world to import foreign carbon emissions has raised fears it will turn Darwin into a global pollution dumping ground. 

To the untrained eye, African lovegrass is just another plant in the NSW Snowy Mountains. But this golden plant is a deceptive invasive weed that is choking out the landscape, causing some farmers to leave the land. 

Australia is the land of the parrot — few places in the world have such a dazzling array of colourful and clever members of the psittacine family.

Infrastructure to monitor the impact of rising sea levels and storm surges on the Coorong in South Australia has been installed along the thin strip of coastline between Goolwa Beach and the lagoons of the Ramsar-listed wetland.

Claims new artificial reefs being installed in a protected marine park could damage a vulnerable natural coral reef are disputed by Queensland's environment minister.

WA Premier Roger Cook says he has "industrial fomo" and wants to take every opportunity to bring big projects to his state.

Major housing, renewables and mining projects often get bogged down for years by Australia's aging environment laws. Now a deal to rewrite them could change that.