Key Points
- Federal Government urges Coalition to back federal environment law reforms
- The ACCC sues Microsoft for an alleged consumer law breach
- Lando Norris’ breaks winless streak at Mexico City Formula One
The federal government is urging the Coalition to back its bill to reform federal environment laws that, if passed, would be the first major change in 26 years.
On Thursday, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt plans to introduce the draft legislation to parliament - with elements opposed by both the Greens and Coalition.
Support from one of the parties is needed to get the bill passed.
The bill would see the minister retain decision-making powers to approve major projects covering mines and renewable energy - opting against an independent, arms-length approval process.
It would also create new National Environmental Protection Agency powers to stop environmental destruction and punish those who breach the law.
The Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, says the reforms need to be modernised - and the Coalition should get behind it.
"And this week, we will deliver into the Parliament our package of environmental reforms that are better for business and better for our environment... It's all about delivering long overdue reforms that are so badly needed to make sure we have laws of the 21st century. Not being stuck with laws that were introduced by John Howard, back in the last century."
There have been two independent reviews of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act since it came into effect in 1999.
They have both called major changes to the Act, with the latest review in 2020 finding that without urgent changes, most of Australia’s threatened plants, animals and ecosystems will become extinct.
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Microsoft is being sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, over an alleged breach of consumer law.
The regulator has commenced legal proceedings in the Federal Court against Microsoft Australia and its parent company Microsoft Corporation.
It alleges Microsoft misled millions of Australians from October last year when it did not disclose to subscribers of Microsoft 365 plans that they could retain their plan - without accepting the price increase that came with the integration of AI assistant [[called Copilot]] into the software.
The ACCC says it is seeking penalties and consumer redress against Microsoft, without specifying a dollar figure.
A company that is found to breach Australian consumer law could be a fine of $50 million - 30 per cent of the corporation’s adjusted turnover during the breach turnover period for the offence.
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The Australian government has hailed the signing of a new treaty, which aims to combat cybercrime through increased cooperation and information sharing.
The United Nations says the convention targets a broad spectrum of offences - from phishing and ransomware to online trafficking and hate speech.
Critics have warned the vague definition of crime could enable abuse.
Australia's Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Matt Thistlethwaite, attended the signing ceremony in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi over the weekend.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says it is important now for countries to follow through - and ensure implementation.
"The Convention also encourages strong protection for victims, including access to recovery, compensation, and the removal of illicit content. By creating binding obligations, the convention turns our commitment into practical safeguards. Today's signing is an important milestone in our shared journey to a safer digital world. The true power of the convention will lie into signatures into tangible action."
72 countries have now signed the treaty, and now goes through a process of being ratified by each nation.
The treaty will formally come into effect 90 days after the 40th state confirms its ratification.
The UN estimates that cybercrime costs the global economy trillions of dollars each year.
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In Formula One, Lando Norris has snapped a five-race winless streak and passed McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the fight for the Formula One championship, by winning at Mexico City.
Piastri came from seventh and used a late pass of George Russell to finish fifth - a critical gain because it allowed Norris to take just a one-point lead over Piastri in the championship race.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says Piastri did well to move up to fifth place - and there will be further opportunities to improve in upcoming races.
"Well, I'm pleased with him fighting. I am pleased with him adopting some of the adjustments in this special conditions that you have in Mexico. Oscar did it and it is a bit of shame that he was not in a condition to do it more because we were with Oscar pretty much always in traffic. We know that we have added tools to the toolbox, which will make him definitely even stronger for an exciting part of the Championship."
