Latest news with #EnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservation
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
‘Time has come': New EV road charge closer
Progressing road user charging and clearing a backlog on homes awaiting environmental approvals are among the 10 immediate reform directions to result from a three-day roundtable aimed to boost Australia's ailing productivity levels. Speaking after talks ended on Thursday, Jim Chalmers said there was 'a lot of conceptual support for road user charging', however no final model had been settled. The next steps will involve presenting an options paper to state treasurers at a meeting in two weeks on September 5, which would be drafted by NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, Infrastructure Minister Catherine King and other relevant ministers. 'The model is not determined, but the key considerations are what's in and out and whether that's sequenced or not and over how long a time period,' he said. 'Treasurer Mookhey was very informed and very constructive on this question and really right around the table people had a view that this is an idea whose time has come and so we will do that work.' The charge, which would likely capture EV drivers currently exempt from the fuel excise, would reform how the government collects revenue to fund road maintenance and infrastructure upgrades. Jim Chalmers said there was 'a lot of conceptual support' for a road user charge, however the final model had yet to be decided. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Other short-term reform initiatives involve fast-tracking deadlocked reforms on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act to speed up approvals for projects while protecting the environment, and further work to remove nuisance tariffs and regulation reductions. Speeding up housing approvals was another 'quick win' which achieved consensus following 29 hours of discussions, with Environmental Minister Murray Watt set to work with Housing Minister Clare O'Neil to speed through the 'backlog of environmental approvals for new homes, most likely in the tens of thousands'. Longer-term reform areas included investigating prefabricated and modular housing, plus more modern methods of construction to increasing housing supply. Mr Chalmers also highlighted three priority areas of tax reform, which dominated the last day of talks, and appeared to achieve little consensus beyond agreement on the need for reform. This included improving intergenerational equality, 'affordable, responsible' offsets to 'incentivise business investment', and a simpler and more sustainable system to fund services such as aged care and the NDIS. 'There are hundreds of different changes you can make to the tax system. Some of them obviously unpalatable to our government or to governments broadly,' he said. 'But what they wanted to do was to give us the guidance that they will help us in those three areas to do the work that we need to do to inform future budgets.' Mr Chalmers also identified 10 areas of immediate reform following three days, and about 29 hours of talks. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Speaking more broadly about the roundtable, which had been criticised as a 'talkfest' and a 'stitch up' by the opposition, Mr Chalmers said he 'finished the three days more optimistic than I was at the start'. He also praised participants for working through the issues in a 'methodical, considered, consultative way'. 'I'm genuine when I say at the end of that three days I looked around the table and I saw people of, you know, big achievers in their own areas representing workers, business CEOs, academics, economists, public servants and others,' he said. 'I drew great strength and confidence from their contributions because not because they had some kind of faux camaraderie, but because they take the challenge so seriously.'
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Red tape on chopping block in bid to build homes faster
The need to simplify the regulation of housing and environmental approvals has received widespread support at a major economic reform summit. But the devil, as always, is in the detail and divisions remain over the specifics. Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised "win-wins" on Wednesday morning at day two of his economic reform roundtable and unions and business found one in a plan to simplify the National Construction Code. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil garnered broad support over the need for a pause to the National Construction Code for the life of the housing accord, which runs until mid-2029 and sets a target for 1.2 million new homes. Changes to the code that deal with safety issues such as fireproofing would be exempt from a pause. But a broader rewrite was also possible. Master Builders Australia has been pushing for a review into "non-essential" changes, including EV charging requirements, which they argue increase the cost and complexity of building new homes. Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O'Neil said it was important to keep improving energy efficiency of new homes but acknowledged the nearly-3000 page document was "clunky", and called for more support for modular housing. Not all were on board with the pause. Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie was concerned about it leading to poorer housing quality, while outspoken Labor backbencher Ed Husic told the ABC it would mean "repeating the bad mistakes of the coalition". The opposition took a 10-year pause of the code to the last election, a policy which was not supported by Labor at the time, but Treasury advised pausing changes to the code in a document leaked ahead of the roundtable. The ACTU's Ms O'Neil agreed with business groups and the superannuation industry that there was need to reform the super performance test, which disincentivised long-term investments in housing and clean energy. There was also support for reforming the Howard-era Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation rules. Unions, employer groups and environmentalists all agreed the act was no longer fit for purpose. They want a new act that provides faster decisions for projects from mining to housing. Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien said he would be as constructive as he could but would hold fire on supporting either of the proposals until he saw more details from Labor. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said there was consensus for the creation of a national environment protection agency, but the "devil is in the detail". While business groups want the EPA to only deal with compliance and not project approvals, Ms O'Shanassy said you needed an independent regulator that is held to account for the speed and quality of its decisions. "So I would put to the folks who don't like the idea of a national EPA making decisions: what's your plan to get better, faster, more predictable decisions for your company and better outcomes for nature?" she said. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, who is representing all the states and territories at the roundtable, said he wanted the federal government's $900 million productivity fund increased, calling it an "excellent start". Increasing the fund could help other states and territories follow NSW's lead in adopting artificial intelligence to speed up planning approvals, he said. Regulation of AI has been a major dividing line between employers and unions heading into the roundtable, with the ACTU calling for the government to force employers to consult with staff before introducing AI tools to the workplace. But Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said there was little conflict with the peak union body in discussions about AI on Wednesday afternoon. The need to simplify the regulation of housing and environmental approvals has received widespread support at a major economic reform summit. But the devil, as always, is in the detail and divisions remain over the specifics. Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised "win-wins" on Wednesday morning at day two of his economic reform roundtable and unions and business found one in a plan to simplify the National Construction Code. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil garnered broad support over the need for a pause to the National Construction Code for the life of the housing accord, which runs until mid-2029 and sets a target for 1.2 million new homes. Changes to the code that deal with safety issues such as fireproofing would be exempt from a pause. But a broader rewrite was also possible. Master Builders Australia has been pushing for a review into "non-essential" changes, including EV charging requirements, which they argue increase the cost and complexity of building new homes. Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O'Neil said it was important to keep improving energy efficiency of new homes but acknowledged the nearly-3000 page document was "clunky", and called for more support for modular housing. Not all were on board with the pause. Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie was concerned about it leading to poorer housing quality, while outspoken Labor backbencher Ed Husic told the ABC it would mean "repeating the bad mistakes of the coalition". The opposition took a 10-year pause of the code to the last election, a policy which was not supported by Labor at the time, but Treasury advised pausing changes to the code in a document leaked ahead of the roundtable. The ACTU's Ms O'Neil agreed with business groups and the superannuation industry that there was need to reform the super performance test, which disincentivised long-term investments in housing and clean energy. There was also support for reforming the Howard-era Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation rules. Unions, employer groups and environmentalists all agreed the act was no longer fit for purpose. They want a new act that provides faster decisions for projects from mining to housing. Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien said he would be as constructive as he could but would hold fire on supporting either of the proposals until he saw more details from Labor. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said there was consensus for the creation of a national environment protection agency, but the "devil is in the detail". While business groups want the EPA to only deal with compliance and not project approvals, Ms O'Shanassy said you needed an independent regulator that is held to account for the speed and quality of its decisions. "So I would put to the folks who don't like the idea of a national EPA making decisions: what's your plan to get better, faster, more predictable decisions for your company and better outcomes for nature?" she said. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, who is representing all the states and territories at the roundtable, said he wanted the federal government's $900 million productivity fund increased, calling it an "excellent start". Increasing the fund could help other states and territories follow NSW's lead in adopting artificial intelligence to speed up planning approvals, he said. Regulation of AI has been a major dividing line between employers and unions heading into the roundtable, with the ACTU calling for the government to force employers to consult with staff before introducing AI tools to the workplace. But Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said there was little conflict with the peak union body in discussions about AI on Wednesday afternoon. The need to simplify the regulation of housing and environmental approvals has received widespread support at a major economic reform summit. But the devil, as always, is in the detail and divisions remain over the specifics. Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised "win-wins" on Wednesday morning at day two of his economic reform roundtable and unions and business found one in a plan to simplify the National Construction Code. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil garnered broad support over the need for a pause to the National Construction Code for the life of the housing accord, which runs until mid-2029 and sets a target for 1.2 million new homes. Changes to the code that deal with safety issues such as fireproofing would be exempt from a pause. But a broader rewrite was also possible. Master Builders Australia has been pushing for a review into "non-essential" changes, including EV charging requirements, which they argue increase the cost and complexity of building new homes. Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O'Neil said it was important to keep improving energy efficiency of new homes but acknowledged the nearly-3000 page document was "clunky", and called for more support for modular housing. Not all were on board with the pause. Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie was concerned about it leading to poorer housing quality, while outspoken Labor backbencher Ed Husic told the ABC it would mean "repeating the bad mistakes of the coalition". The opposition took a 10-year pause of the code to the last election, a policy which was not supported by Labor at the time, but Treasury advised pausing changes to the code in a document leaked ahead of the roundtable. The ACTU's Ms O'Neil agreed with business groups and the superannuation industry that there was need to reform the super performance test, which disincentivised long-term investments in housing and clean energy. There was also support for reforming the Howard-era Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation rules. Unions, employer groups and environmentalists all agreed the act was no longer fit for purpose. They want a new act that provides faster decisions for projects from mining to housing. Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien said he would be as constructive as he could but would hold fire on supporting either of the proposals until he saw more details from Labor. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said there was consensus for the creation of a national environment protection agency, but the "devil is in the detail". While business groups want the EPA to only deal with compliance and not project approvals, Ms O'Shanassy said you needed an independent regulator that is held to account for the speed and quality of its decisions. "So I would put to the folks who don't like the idea of a national EPA making decisions: what's your plan to get better, faster, more predictable decisions for your company and better outcomes for nature?" she said. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, who is representing all the states and territories at the roundtable, said he wanted the federal government's $900 million productivity fund increased, calling it an "excellent start". Increasing the fund could help other states and territories follow NSW's lead in adopting artificial intelligence to speed up planning approvals, he said. Regulation of AI has been a major dividing line between employers and unions heading into the roundtable, with the ACTU calling for the government to force employers to consult with staff before introducing AI tools to the workplace. But Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said there was little conflict with the peak union body in discussions about AI on Wednesday afternoon. The need to simplify the regulation of housing and environmental approvals has received widespread support at a major economic reform summit. But the devil, as always, is in the detail and divisions remain over the specifics. Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised "win-wins" on Wednesday morning at day two of his economic reform roundtable and unions and business found one in a plan to simplify the National Construction Code. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil garnered broad support over the need for a pause to the National Construction Code for the life of the housing accord, which runs until mid-2029 and sets a target for 1.2 million new homes. Changes to the code that deal with safety issues such as fireproofing would be exempt from a pause. But a broader rewrite was also possible. Master Builders Australia has been pushing for a review into "non-essential" changes, including EV charging requirements, which they argue increase the cost and complexity of building new homes. Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O'Neil said it was important to keep improving energy efficiency of new homes but acknowledged the nearly-3000 page document was "clunky", and called for more support for modular housing. Not all were on board with the pause. Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie was concerned about it leading to poorer housing quality, while outspoken Labor backbencher Ed Husic told the ABC it would mean "repeating the bad mistakes of the coalition". The opposition took a 10-year pause of the code to the last election, a policy which was not supported by Labor at the time, but Treasury advised pausing changes to the code in a document leaked ahead of the roundtable. The ACTU's Ms O'Neil agreed with business groups and the superannuation industry that there was need to reform the super performance test, which disincentivised long-term investments in housing and clean energy. There was also support for reforming the Howard-era Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation rules. Unions, employer groups and environmentalists all agreed the act was no longer fit for purpose. They want a new act that provides faster decisions for projects from mining to housing. Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien said he would be as constructive as he could but would hold fire on supporting either of the proposals until he saw more details from Labor. Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said there was consensus for the creation of a national environment protection agency, but the "devil is in the detail". While business groups want the EPA to only deal with compliance and not project approvals, Ms O'Shanassy said you needed an independent regulator that is held to account for the speed and quality of its decisions. "So I would put to the folks who don't like the idea of a national EPA making decisions: what's your plan to get better, faster, more predictable decisions for your company and better outcomes for nature?" she said. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, who is representing all the states and territories at the roundtable, said he wanted the federal government's $900 million productivity fund increased, calling it an "excellent start". Increasing the fund could help other states and territories follow NSW's lead in adopting artificial intelligence to speed up planning approvals, he said. Regulation of AI has been a major dividing line between employers and unions heading into the roundtable, with the ACTU calling for the government to force employers to consult with staff before introducing AI tools to the workplace. But Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said there was little conflict with the peak union body in discussions about AI on Wednesday afternoon.
Sky News AU
30-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Energy Minister Chris Bowen launches major review of gas market rules amid energy grid concerns
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has launched a comprehensive review of gas market regulations in a bid to shore up long-term energy security and affordability. The review comes after Mr Bowen's repeated claims that 'renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy'. As part of the review, the government will consult with industry, stakeholders and the public on how to regulate the gas market. There have been sweeping efforts across all levels of government in recent months to review the role of gas in the power grid amid concerns about reliability and cost. The Victorian government recently backed down on its contentious gas bans following alarm from consumers and industry stakeholders. The NSW government also faced calls to intervene in Sydney Mayor Clover Moore's ban on gas appliances in new buildings. Mr Bowen said his review will ensure the gas market will be "fit for purpose" as the country accelerates toward an 82 per cent renewable energy grid. 'Gas has an important role to play in our energy system as we transition towards 82 per cent renewables,' Mr Bowen said in a statement on Monday. 'Unlike coal, gas power generators can be turned on and off in a couple of minutes – providing the ultimate backstop in our energy grid.' 'It's critical that we use this review get the settings right in our gas market, ensuring we are securing affordable Australian gas for Australian use.' The goal will be to streamline regulatory mechanisms to support long-term investment, affordability, and domestic supply of gas. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released its latest Gas Inquiry report on Monday, raising concerns about the future of gas. The ACCC confirmed that while short-term supply was sufficient, the long-term outlook remains precarious without further investment. The report echoes years of warnings from the ACCC and the Australian Energy Market Operator about looming supply shortfalls. In response to those warnings, the Albanese government said it has secured 644 petajoules of enforceable domestic gas supply since 2023. Environment Minister Murray Watt recently gave the green light to Woodside's North West Shelf gas project extension until 2070 in order to firm up gas supply. The approval was made under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, which doesn't require consideration of climate impact. The decision sparked backlash from environmental groups and the Australians Greens, who accused Labor of failing a major climate test. Greens leader Larissa Waters labelled the approval 'a betrayal' of the government's commitment to net zero by 2050 and vowed to encourage legal action. 'Approving fossil fuels out to 2070 totally undermines the government's commitment to net zero by 2050, which is already too late for a safe climate future,' Ms Waters said. Despite the criticism, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the continued role of gas during the transition. 'You can't have renewables unless you have firming capacity. You don't change a transition through warm thoughts. You do it through a concrete proposal,' he said recently.
Sky News AU
09-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doubles down on renewables and net zero in National Press Club address
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will reaffirm his commitment to renewable energy and net zero targets in his National Press Club address on Tuesday. Mr Albanese will deliver his first speech to the press club after being re-elected as Prime Minister of the 48th Parliament of Australia at around 12.30pm. He has outlined his agenda—focusing on housing, healthcare, education, cost of living relief and renewable energy—in an excerpt of his speech provided to Sky News. will stream Mr Albanese's National Press Club address live at 12.30pm AEST. Mr Albanese will say the path to net zero must be grounded in delivery, not ideology, and stress the importance of seizing the economic opportunity of the global shift to clean energy. He has described his vision of the future, 'where we realise our potential as a renewable energy superpower'. 'We are working to meet the environmental challenges of climate change and seize the economic opportunities of renewable energy,' Mr Albanese will say. 'We have legislated our 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and our commitment to Net Zero by 2050. 'We are delivering our energy policy – renewables, backed by gas, batteries and hydro.' The comments come as political pressure mounts over the mounting cost of the government's climate policy. New analysis from the Institute of Public Affairs revealed that annual federal spending on climate and net zero programs has soared to about $9 billion. IPA deputy executive director Adam Creighton described the scale of climate-related spending as 'ridiculous'. 'Decades of poor decision making, based on flawed and misleading advice and ideology, is crushing… household budgets,' he said. Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeatedly argued that renewables remain the 'cheapest and cleanest' source of power. The Australian Energy Regulator's default market offer has risen by up to 50 per cent in parts of the country since 2022. Neither Mr Bowen nor Mr Albanese have conceded their 2022 election promise to lower household power bills by $275 has not been met. The government's clean energy transition has also drawn criticism from the Greens following its decision to approve the extension of the North West Shelf gas project. 'You can't have renewables unless you have firming capacity. You don't change a transition through warm thoughts,' Mr Albanese said of the decision. The extension of the gas project was made under the existing Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The EPBC does not require consideration of a project's climate impact. Despite long-flagged reforms to the EPBC Act, Sky News understands the government has decided not to include a climate trigger as part of the update, rejecting calls from the Greens. Greens leader Larissa Waters slammed the gas approval, saying it 'totally undermines the government's commitment to net zero by 2050'. Despite criticism from activists, Mr Albanese maintained the transition must be done responsibly and with a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges ahead. 'Our government's vision and ambition for Australia's future was never dependent on the size of our majority,' he will say in his Press Club speech. 'But you can only build for that future vision if you build confidence that you can deliver on urgent necessities.' He said Australia's mix of natural resources, a skilled workforce and geopolitical stability made it the best place in the world to lead the net zero transition. 'When you consider the resources and energy and technology that a world moving to Net Zero needs… there is nowhere else you would rather be than right here in Australia,' he said.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Shoppers 'genuinely shocked' by side effect of Coles, Bunnings, Woolworths, Mitre 10 product
For years, Coles, Woolworths, Bunnings, Mitre 10, and other major retailers have been knowingly and legally selling a poison to consumers with a deadly side effect. It's quietly killing off Australia's native animals. Now Yahoo News can reveal more than 280 vets, doctors, farmers, scientists, and conservationists have signed an open letter calling on the nation's chemical regulator to ban merchants from selling this 'highly-toxic' form of rat bait to consumers. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are openly sold on the same shelves as less harmful first-generation poisons, traps and natural baits. Although there are warnings on packets, unless shoppers delve into the fine print, they're unlikely to be able to tell the difference, and experts believe only professionals should be able to use these products because they're so dangerous. The letter has been sent from BirdLife Australia to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) as it is conducting a review of SGARs. It notes the United States, Canada, and the European Union have all introduced 'significant restrictions' to reduce the risk of 'unintended harm' caused by these products. 'Australia is lagging behind, allowing the continued use of SGARs in a way that is putting our wildlife and pets at risk,' it warns, dubbing it a 'crisis' that needs 'immediate intervention'. BirdLife Australia's Dr Holly Parsons told Yahoo News SGARs have a commercial purpose, however most consumers are 'genuinely shocked' that these baits are sold in supermarkets and hardware stores for home use when they can harm owls, native mammals, and even pets. 'There's a perception that because you can buy it on the shelf it's safe to use, and if you use it in accordance with the directions there's not going to be a problem. But that's not the case,' she said. Related: 😳 Bunnings workers struggle to spot deadly product on shelf SGARs were developed in the 1980s to combat growing resistance by rats to first-generation rodenticides. But these new poisons don't break down quickly in the environment, meaning each time a non-target animal eats a rat or mouse, they will accumulate more poison in their body. Sometimes the poisons will directly kill animals by making them slowly bleed out. But often they make non-target species so sick they get hit by cars or become unable to hunt. It's long been known that predatory birds like owls and tawny frogmouths frequently succumb to SGARs. Sadly, it's unpaid wildlife carers and volunteer vets who are left to mop up the problem when Aussies find sick and dying birds in their yards. In February, new research revealed native mammals like Tasmanian devils and quolls that are already threatened with extinction could be tipped over the edge by these chemicals. The signatories to the letter warn the problem is so serious that SGARs will soon be nominated as a Key Threatening Process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – Commonwealth legislation designed to safeguard endangered species. This would place SGARs alongside other major threats to the survival, abundance, or evolutionary development of native species, with other examples including feral animals, land clearing and chytrid fungus, which has directly caused the extinction of seven frog species in Australia. 'This issue is critical, and the urgency cannot be overstated. The ongoing use of SGARs presents a severe and immediate threat to Australia's wildlife and pets,' the letter says. Parsons told Yahoo the problem is continuing to 'grow deeper' the more we research it and that APVMA needed to act. 'More and more, we're understanding these products are getting out further than we ever expected them to. Many people probably don't realise that their backyard is part of the local environment, and so the impact of what they do inside their home is going to have ramifications for the wildlife around them,' she said. 📸 Beach find highlights dark side of Queensland's $88 million tourism pledge Dangerous discovery made 30cm under Western Australian garden 🌏 Alarming map highlights growing threats to $3.8 billion industry In 2023, pressure on Bunnings to stop selling animal glue traps proved effective, with the retailer confirming they would phase them out. These products had been linked to wildlife harm, and in this case Bunnings acted without being forced to by new regulations. Some campaigners had also hoped the retailer would withdraw SGARs from consumer sale without the need for the government to intervene. Yahoo visited Bunnings and Coles stores and saw SGARs on shelves beside less harmful products. And while this may be confusing for some consumers, the retailers are complying with all current legal guidelines with their displays. Active ingredients in SGARs-based products include brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, difenacoum, and flocoumafen. An update on their use by the APVMA is expected this year. Birdlife Australia's 281 signatories include biodiversity expert Professor Martine Maron, environmental scientist Professor Raylene Cooke, former Queensland chief scientist Professor Hugh Possingham, and molecular scientist Associate Professor Bill Bateman. They are calling for the following seven changes: SGARs to be withdrawn from public sale and their use restricted to licensed professionals. A ban on their use outside of buildings. Promotion of alternatives like electronic traps and non-anticoagulant options. Develop new management strategies that prioritise non-chemical alternatives. Mandate the monitoring of SGAR impacts on wildlife. Establish buffer zones around ecologically sensitive areas. Develop a threat abatement plan to address rodenticide contamination in the environment. Coles was contacted for comment, but it did not immediately respond. Metcash's Independent Hardware Group (IHG), which supplies Mitre 10 stores with products including SGARs, told Yahoo News it "will comply" with any directives legislated by the APVMA. "In the interim, we are working with suppliers to produce educational materials for members and consumers around the use of alternative products," it said in a statement. "While we cannot compel independent Mitre 10 stores to display signage, it will be strongly encouraged. We are also in the process of extending our range of natural, pallet-based throw packs that are non-toxic to birds and other wildlife." Bunnings said it had worked with the APVMA and suppliers to update packaging to "clearly display" on the front when SGARs are present, and introduced QR codes in rodent control aisles so customers can learn more about products. "The rodenticide products we sell are in line with guidance from the Federal regulator, the APVMA, and we will continue to follow its advice in this area. This includes any requirements confirmed by the APVMA when the Anticoagulant Rodenticides Chemical Review is finalised," a spokesperson said. Bunnings added that it was providing "choice" for consumers, and that included both rodenticides and non-poisonous alternatives to help customers achieve the "best solution to their specific rodent problem". Woolworths said the products are "important" for people who have issues with rats or mice, particularly in rural areas. It also sells them in metropolitan and suburban stores. "We also sell a number of alternative options including ultrasonic repellents, traps and rodenticides without second-generation anticoagulants," it said. "As always, we encourage our customers to follow the instructions outlined on these products, which include clear labels and warnings about safe use, storage and disposal." You can read the full BirdLife Australia letter here. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
