Multi-Sectoral Roundtable: First 100 Days Advocacy

Better Futures Australia's second quarterly roundtable for 2025 brought together partners and members from across sectors to align on climate advocacy priorities and prepare for the first 100 days of the next government.

These sessions provide a collaborative space to share strategic insights from BFA Sector Working Groups, explore cross-sector opportunities, and shape coordinated action to raise Australia’s climate ambition—especially as we approach a pivotal federal election.

What the Roundtable Covered:

• With the federal election around the corner, this session focused on:
  • Recapping what was—and wasn’t—funded in the March Federal Budget
  • Sharing BFA’s proposed First 100 Days advocacy priorities and shared messaging (view the slides here)
  • Planning coordinated cross-sector action, including:
    • Joint Ministerial briefings and roundtables
    • Aligned public communications and narrative strategies
    • A Joint Statement feeding into Australia’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and COP30 positioning

Why this matters

While the March 2025 Federal Budget reaffirmed some long-term priorities: 

• $2 billion to recapitalise the Clean Energy Finance Corporation for concessional finance (Budget Paper 2, p27)
• $1 billion for a Green Iron Investment Fund over 7 years (BP2, p63)
• $12 billion in production credits for green aluminium over 19 years (BP2, p63)
• $219.3 million support package for Whyalla Steelworks (BP2, p63)
• $100 million to support the Hunter Region’s clean hydrogen readiness (BP3, p75)
• $1.8 billion in energy bill relief for households and small businesses (BP2, p75)
  • $500 million for home energy upgrades for 50,000 social housing properties
• $2.3 billion to subsidise household battery installations—aimed at cutting bills and boosting grid resilience (post-budget announcement)

...it also left major gaps:

• Less than 0.1% of the budget is allocated to nature, with total spending declining since last year.
  • $212 million announced for the Saving Australia’s Bushland Program and ocean protection lacks clarity on delivery mechanisms for land acquisition and stewardship (BP2, p26)
• Many climate and environment programs expire within 12 months, with no clear continuation plan.
• No new funding for key transition enablers like:
  • The 2026-27 Safeguard Mechanism review
  • Carbon and Nature Repair market method development
  • Environment Protection Australia (only inferred via Budget Paper 4)
• Continued fossil fuel tax breaks and diesel rebates—no reform in sight

At the same time, the election outcome may reshape the climate policy landscape—with some commitments at risk of reversal or delay. For example, the potential roll back of national climate targets or climate disclosure laws threatens to undermine investor certainty, Australia’s Paris alignment, and global competitiveness.

BFA Shared Priorities

Climate & Clean Energy:

• Finalise and fund a comprehensive Net Zero Plan with strong sector-specific action plans
• Invest in climate science, clean technology, and First Nations-led resilience
• Expand access to electrification, energy efficiency and clean community infrastructure

Nature & Land Use:

• Secure 1% of the federal budget for nature protection and restoration
• Deliver a credible 30x30 plan, including land acquisition, Indigenous governance, and ocean protections
• Properly resource the new Environment Protection Australia to function as a strong, independent regulator

Climate Justice, Equity & Participation:

• Enable place-based, people-led transitions, with tailored regional investment
• Reform tax settings so polluters pay, and public funds drive equitable climate outcomes
• Embed multilevel and multisectoral governance to give local government, community, and business a formal roles in national climate policy decision making, including both design and implementation

What’s next

1. Watch the Roundtable Recording (accessible here)

2. Get Involved via a BFA Sector Working Group – Help shape targeted strategies via BFA sector working groups

3. Share or Endorse the NDC Joint Statement – Contribute to a call for stronger ambition and accountability from the next government

Let’s make sure the next government hears from every corner of the real economy—from local councils and regional communities to clean tech, finance, health, and beyond.

When climate champions lead, we create the confidence for governments to go farther, faster—together—on climate.

This is the UN "Race to Zero" ambition loop in action.

Thank you for being part of the Better Futures community,

The Better Futures Australia Team