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2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission

Members engaged in the Treasury's consultation to share perspectives on priorities for the 2025-26 Federal Budget. 

We invite you to read our submission and consider how we can shape Australia's climate ambition through ongoing dialogue and collaboration.

3 February 2025

 

To the Secretary to the Australian Treasury Dr Steven Kennedy,

About Better Futures Australia

Better Futures Australia (BFA) unites leaders across diverse sectors—businesses, agriculture, energy, First Nations-led organisations, finance, health, social services, unions, and academia—representing over seven million Australians. Together, we drive solutions that accelerate Australia’s transition to a zero-emissions, climate-resilient future.

Introduction

BFA acknowledges the Australian Government’s steps to guide the transformation to a clean energy economy, including the development of sectoral decarbonisation plans informed by the Climate Change Authority (CCA), and landmark initiatives such as the Future Made in Australia package and the Capacity Investment Scheme. However, we emphasise the importance of clear, credible and actionable decarbonisation plans to not only meet Australia’s emissions targets, but also deliver our fair share under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

While progress is evident, the urgency for action has never been greater. Climate impacts are intensifying, with the devastating consequences of extreme weather events and environmental degradation felt across the Australian landscape,. Australia’s pledge at COP28 to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency within five years underscores the need for ambitious, economy-wide measures. By leveraging our unparalleled renewable energy resources, critical minerals, and sustainable practices, Australia can lead the global energy transition while restoring and protecting ecosystems, to secure long-term economic prosperity. We need an accelerated, integrated economy-wide approach to ensure Australia’s economy stays its course.

Recommendations

This submission presents the collective perspectives of the BFA community for the 2025-26 Budget. It outlines strategies and policies critical to building a climate-resilient and prosperous zero-emissions Australia. These recommendations come at a critical time–not only for the climate but also as Australia bids to co-host COP31 and seeks to establish itself as a global climate leader. The following recommendations stem from the collaborative efforts of BFA’s sector-focused working groups in corporates and finance, nature and land-use, local government, transport, and health, supported by diverse partner organisations.

To support Australia’s transition to a climate-resilient and prosperous future, BFA recommends:

  1. Accelerating investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce emissions, cut energy bills, and drive a clean and climate-resilient economy.
  2. Ensuring equitable financial flows so that all Australians—including vulnerable and underserved communities—benefit from the clean economy.
  3. Aligning climate and energy, nature, and land use policies to ensure a fair and effective transition.
  4. Strengthening governance frameworks to align policies and programs across all levels of government for effective climate action and cross-sector collaboration.

Sector-Specific Recommendations

Energy Bill Savings:

Building on recent $1.7 billion in expanded household electrification funding to ensure low-income renters, regional communities, and strata housing residents can access bill savings. We recommend:

  1. Expanding equitable financing options, including:
    • Scaling up the Electrify Everything Loans Scheme (EELS), a HECS-style loan covering solar, batteries, smart EV charging, induction cooking, and home efficiency upgrades.
    • Exploring the Inclusive Utility Investment (IUI) model, where utilities finance electrification upgrades with no upfront cost to residents, repaid via on-bill tariffs that guarantee net energy savings.
  2. Scaling Social Housing Upgrades: Expanding on the $500 million Future Made in Australia commitment for social housing energy upgrades, we recommend:
  3. Funding deep retrofits (solar, batteries, heat pumps, insulation) across public and community housing, ensuring social housing tenants do not bear cost burdens.
  4. Targeted grant funding for First Nations-controlled housing, prioritising off-grid solar solutions and phasing out diesel reliance in remote communities.
  5. Introducing tailored financial incentives for private rentals and strata properties, including:
    • Tax offsets and accelerated depreciation for landlords who upgrade to efficient electric appliances.
    • Expanded Environmental Upgrade Finance (EUF) to lower upfront costs.
  6. Mandatory Rental Standards: A federal co-funding model to support state and territory implementation of minimum energy efficiency standards for rentals, learning from Victoria and the ACT’s existing models. These standards will guarantee that young people and others in rental accommodation who lack control over their housing's climate readiness can benefit from healthier, cost-efficient homes. 
  7. Business and Local Government Incentives: 
    • Grants and low-interest loans to businesses for energy efficiency investments.
    • Support for council-led Virtual Power Plants to integrate residential solar and energy storage, reducing energy costs and improving grid stability.
  8. Community Power Projects: Allocate $88.5 million over four years to establish 15 Local Energy Hubs in strategic renewable energy zones, supported by a national coordination office. These hubs are needed to provide tailored assistance for households and businesses making the transition. Prioritise First Nations and regional communities, ensuring clean energy access and energy bill relief for disadvantaged groups.

Green Metals:

The Future Made in Australia package and recent investments in green hydrogen infrastructure and aluminium provide a foundation for Australia to become a global leader in low-emission metals. However, targeted investment and policy measures are required to build domestic value chains, reduce emissions, and maintain global competitiveness in green metals. We recommend the following measures:

  1. National Green Iron and Steel Strategy: Provide dedicated funding to develop and implement a National Green Iron and Steel Strategy that aligns with Australia’s commitments to the Paris Agreement and global decarbonisation efforts. The strategy should focus on creating measurable targets and clear accountability for emissions reduction across the iron and steel value chain. It should also prioritise renewable energy deployment and innovation in green hydrogen production to power low-emission iron and steel manufacturing.
  2. Renewable-Powered Industrial Precincts: Allocate a $10–30 billion to develop renewable energy industrial precincts and infrastructure that enable large-scale processing of iron ore into green iron domestically. This builds on the foundation of the $22 billion provided in the 2024–25 budget for renewable energy projects​.,
  3. Public Procurement and Industry Standards: 
    • Provide funding to create and enforce emissions-intensity requirements for public infrastructure projects, ensuring government procurement prioritises low-emission metals. 
    • Expand green steel certification standards, aligning with key export markets such as Japan and South Korea, to create a strong domestic demand signal for Australian low-emission metals.6,7
  4. Foster International Partnerships: Establish trilateral and regional partnerships, such as the Australasian Green Iron Corporation, to strengthen trade relationships with key markets like China, Japan, and South Korea. This collaboration should prioritise technology transfer, aligned emissions standards, and shared investment in decarbonisation technologies​.6,
  5. ​Support Research and Development: Provide $500 million over ten years to accelerate the development of technologies for hematite processing and other emissions-reducing advancements in green metals production. Research initiatives should also address lifecycle emissions accounting and biodiversity impacts​. 6,7,8
  6. Community Benefit Principles: All publicly funded green metals projects should integrate equitable community benefit-sharing frameworks, including:
    • First Nations capacity-building programs to ensure economic participation and co-governance in major projects.
    • Local employment commitments, ensuring regional communities benefit from clean industry growth.
    • Structured benefit-sharing mechanisms to deliver long-term social and economic advantages to host regions.6,7,8
  7. Embed additional capacity within local governments: Provide long-term funding to support regional local governments in managing and coordinating clean energy-related activities. Local governments are central to Australia’s energy transition, playing a key role in: (i) community benefits management; (ii) infrastructure and workforce planning; and (iii) land use and regulatory oversight. The NSW Government local government transition planning initiative is a useful model, providing $250,000 of funding over the next 3 years, but ongoing funding is required to ensure: 
    • Sufficient resources to manage large-scale energy transformations.
    • Capacity-building to coordinate cross-sector energy infrastructure development.

Adaptation and Resilience:

Australia’s National Climate Adaptation Plan outlines a framework for resilience but leaves significant gaps in funding, implementation and coordination. To address this, we recommend:

  1. Coordinated implementation of the National Climate Adaptation Plan: 
    • Ensure better coordination across federal, state, and local governments to streamline adaptation funding, programs, and policy frameworks.
    • Resource local governments as key implementers of adaptation strategies, ensuring they are not left underfunded while responding to climate impacts.
    • Align adaptation planning with the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group (ASLCG) recommendations by funding the development and implementation of a national climate and security action plan.
    • Increase funding for the Climate Change Authority to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the National Climate Adaptation Plan, establishing clear adaptation targets and accountability.
  2. Expanding Community-Led and First Nations-Led Adaptation Initiatives:
    • Fund and prioritise First Nations-led adaptation and Caring for Country programs, integrating Indigenous knowledge into resilience strategies.
    • Leverage existing Commonwealth programs such as the Emissions Reduction Fund, Indigenous Ranger programs, the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), and the Regional Delivery Provider network of NRM organisations to expand community-led adaptation.
    • Ensure genuine co-design with communities, shifting from top-down approaches to directly resourcing community-driven resilience efforts.
    • Increase investment in nature-based climate solutions (NbS), including cultural fire management, waterway restoration, and coastal resilience projects, which enhance disaster resilience while delivering economic and environmental co-benefits.
  3. Resourcing Regional NRM Organisations and Expanding NbS:
    • Allocate $280 million annually for the next decade to empower Australia’s 54 Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations to implement essential adaptation strategies, such as:
      • Nature protection and restoration;
      • Sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration;
      • Water quality improvement and erosion control; and
      • Pest and weed management.
    • Expand investment in NbS, including First Nations-led fire and land management, waterway restoration, coastal and reef protection, and community-based disaster resilience planning. These strategies offer low-cost, high-impact alternatives to grey infrastructure (e.g., levees, dams, seawalls) while delivering regional employment, health, and biodiversity benefits.
    • Enhance funding for urban and regional greening, reforestation, and catchment restoration to strengthen biodiversity, water security, and economic resilience.
    • Scale up investment through existing Commonwealth programs—such as the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and Indigenous Caring for Country programs—to integrate NbS into disaster risk reduction and adaptation strategies.
    • Invest $94.5 million ($18.9 million per annum to 2029-30) to scale up NRM regional processes for protection, adaptation and recovery of biodiversity, natural capital and agricultural assets in extreme weather events.
    • Allocate $48 million ($9.6 million per annum to 2029-30) to support landholders and communities to prepare for, plan, and deliver investible carbon and nature projects with ‘Planning for impact’ components that maximise co-benefits through regional NRM planning.
    • Incorporate disaster risk reduction into emerging nature-positive investment policies, such as the Nature Repair Market, ensuring funding prioritises climate resilience.
    • Develop investment guidelines and public-private partnerships to strengthen the role of NbS in disaster preparedness.13,
  4. Local Government Support: Provide $2 billion annually in targeted funding for councils to: 
    • Work across all levels of government to enhance critical infrastructure and deploy community-led adaptation solutions.
    • Resource community groups to manage local risks and adaptation efforts.
    • Ensure local governments are equipped to incorporate climate risks into financial, risk, and asset management planning.
    • Mandate climate risk planning in state-level Local Government Acts, providing funding for councils to develop and implement these strategies through non-grant mechanisms.
  5. Resilient Housing and Infrastructure: Allocate $1 billion over four years for climate-resilient housing retrofits and updates to the National Construction Code, ensuring:
    • Climate-ready housing designs and construction in flood-prone areas is restricted to minimise long-term costs. 
    • Resilience ratings are embedded into national finance taxonomies and planning policies, ensuring climate risk is factored into investment decisions.
    • Investment in healthcare, disaster response, and workplace safety is strengthened to protect communities from increasing extreme weather.

Transport and Mobility:

The National Electric Vehicle Strategy and Active Transport Fund provide momentum for emissions reductions in the transport sector, but greater ambition is needed for Australia to meet its emissions targets. We propose:

  1. Accelerating EV Uptake: Build upon the National Electric Vehicle Strategy by:
    • Expanding targets for EV adoption and strengthening incentives, prioritising accessibility for low-income households and regional communities. 
    • Supporting development of zero-emission specialist fleet vehicles (e.g., utes, street sweepers, garbage trucks). 
    • Phasing out business tax write-offs for new petrol/diesel vehicles. 
    • Electrifying passenger fleets, prioritising high-use vehicles like taxis, rideshare, and government fleets.
  2. Public and Active Transport: 
    • Dedicate at least 50% of transport budgets to public transport and 20% to active transport to align with UN recommendations and best practice​.
    • Expand funding for zero-emission buses and rail electrification.
    • Increase investment in cycling and walking infrastructure beyond the $100 million Active Transport Fund.
    • Develop nationally consistent rules for light vehicles, e-bikes, and e-scooters to improve safety and accessibility.
  3. Shifting from Road and Air to Rail
    • Invest in high-speed rail to link major cities and regions, reducing reliance on aviation.
    • Support freight mode shift from road to electrified rail, including intermodal hubs​.
    • Engage all levels of government to develop and implement market-based incentives (e.g., aviation taxes, congestion pricing) to fund rail infrastructure while discouraging high-emission transport.
  4. Reducing Transport Emissions and Air Pollution
    • Incentivise introduction of anti-idling policies and clean transport initiatives across jurisdictions to reduce public health costs from air pollution. 
  5. Empowering Local Governments: Councils and cities play a pivotal role in delivering transport and mobility investment measures. However, they require support to expand active transport networks, electrify local public transport fleets, and integrate land-use planning with low-emission mobility. There is a missed opportunity to adequately fund and enable councils to trial and scale innovative urban transport solutions using community-driven planning approaches.​

Nature and Land Use:

Programs like the National Soil Carbon Innovation Challenge and the Indigenous Ranger Program highlight the potential of integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) with emissions reduction and climate adaptation strategies. However, to align with international biodiversity and climate commitments, Australia must significantly scale up investment in land-based carbon storage, environmental protection, expand reforestation and soil carbon programs, and First Nations-led conservation. We recommend:

  1. Investing 1% of GDP in Nature Protection and Restoration: 
    • To restore ecosystems and integrate land management with biodiversity and climate resilience efforts, Australia must commit to investing at least 1% of GDP annually in nature protection, aligning with leading global standards.
    • The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists' Blueprint to Repair Australia's Landscapes recommends a $7.3 billion annual investment over 30 years to restore Australia’s degraded ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen natural carbon sinks.
  2. Agriculture and Land Sector Decarbonisation:
    • Even with ambitious emissions reductions in other sectors, land-based carbon removal will be essential to achieving Australia’s Paris Agreement 1.5°C target. Agriculture accounted for 16.6% of Australia’s emissions, or 85 Mt CO2e in 2022, while the agriculture and land sector collectively provided an 88 Mt CO2e carbon sink, highlighting the need for emissions reductions in agriculture alongside scaling up land-based sequestration. 
    • Expand reforestation and soil carbon programs to maximise carbon sequestration potential.
  3. Scaling Up Land Use Data and Monitoring: Invest $100 million over four years to develop a national native vegetation mapping and monitoring system to:
    • Track deforestation, land clearing, and habitat loss;
    • Ensure accurate emissions reporting and verification for sustainable land use; and
    • Align federal and state-level data systems, such as the National Carbon Accounting System, Queensland’s SLATS program and the local government area Snapshot Climate tool, to improve accuracy.
  4. Expanding Protected Areas and First Nations-Led Land Management:
    • Ensure commitments to protect 30% of Australia’s land by 2030 are implemented and remain consistent with the UN Global Biodiversity Framework.
    • Invest $5 billion through 2030 in a dedicated land acquisition fund to establish new public, private, or Indigenous protected areas with high biodiversity and carbon storage potential. 
    • Expand the Indigenous Ranger Program to 5,000 positions by 2030 to:
      • Revitalise cultural fire management and control invasive species;
      • Scale up forest restoration and habitat protection;
      • Provide additional funding for Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs); and
      • Ensure funding supports organisational capacity and coordination for First Nations-led ranger programs.
  5. Ensuring a Nature-Positive Energy Transition: 
    • Invest $500 million in improved data and mapping, in the form of strategic environmental assessment and regional planning, for Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and critical minerals projects; 
    • Establish a $100 million 'Renewables for Nature' grant program to fund conservation projects within REZs, incentivising developers to go beyond minimum offset requirements; 
    • Fund 15 Local Energy Hubs ($88.5 million over four years) to support community-led planning in key renewable energy zones;
    • Develop a First Nations and community-led data infrastructure system ($11 million over five years) to enhance distributed decision-making in regional land use planning.

Built Environment and Governance:

The Capacity Investment Scheme and multilevel governance initiatives provide a foundation for coordinated climate action. However, a more structured and well-resourced multilevel governance framework is needed to align national, state, and local government efforts and drive effective policy implementation. We propose:

  1. Strengthening Australia’s Multilevel Governance Framework: 
    • Enhance coordination between national, state, and local governments to address regulatory barriers and streamline climate action.
    • As a signatory to the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) at COP28, Australia must ensure greater inclusion of subnational governments in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
    • Implement recommendations from the Many Hands Make Light Work report to establish a scalable multilevel governance framework that empowers local councils to contribute to national emissions targets.
    • Support local councils with greater funding, capacity-building, and policy alignment, enabling them to implement state and national climate and energy policies effectively.
  2. National Urban Policy and Built Environment Resilience:
    • Align the National Urban Policy (NUP) with long-term funding commitments to ensure sustained investment in climate-ready urban infrastructure.
    • Address structural biases in transport and urban planning by reforming budgeting practices that disproportionately favor private vehicle infrastructure.
    • Update the National Construction Code to strengthen alignment across subnational governments, mandate net-zero building designs and ensure planning laws prevent construction in high-risk areas. 
    • Increase investment in green urban infrastructure to reduce urban heat, expand active transport options, and improve public space resilience.

Health and Climate:

Climate change is the greatest public health challenge of our time, exacerbating extreme weather events, air pollution, and disease transmission while straining healthcare systems. An integrated approach to mitigation, adaptation, and healthcare resilience is essential. 

  1. Climate-Resilient Healthcare Systems: Fund the full implementation of the National Health and Climate Strategy to strengthen Australia’s health sector response to climate change. Support the leadership, engagement, and coordination functions of the National Health, Sustainability, and Climate Unit to ensure systemic adaptation to climate-related health risks.
  2. Decarbonising the Health Sector: Work with states and territories to: (i) support mandatory Scope 1-3 emissions monitoring and reporting for healthcare organisations to identify and implement low-emissions solutions; (ii) integrate renewable energy and electrification into healthcare facilities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve resilience; and (iii) expand sustainable procurement policies for medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and hospital infrastructure.
  3. Building Climate-Ready Health Workforces: Mandate climate and health training for all workers in the health and aged care sectors, ensuring a foundational understanding of climate-related health risks and actions to protect vulnerable populations. Develop targeted heatwave and disaster response training to equip health professionals, emergency responders, and aged care workers with the necessary skills to manage climate-related health emergencies.

Indigenous Leadership in Climate Action: 

  1. Accelerate implementation of the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, ensuring Indigenous communities benefit equitably from the clean energy transition.
  2. Expand renewable energy and electrification projects in remote communities to reduce reliance on diesel generators, incorporating solar power, energy-efficient appliances, and thermal performance upgrades in First Nations-controlled housing.
  3. Increase funding for Indigenous-led Caring for Country initiatives, integrating contributions to:
    • Biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration;
    • Cultural revitalisation and intergenerational knowledge sharing;
    • Economic empowerment through land and water stewardship; and
    • Australia’s climate adaptation plans and resilience frameworks, supporting First Nations rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs).
  4. Dedicated Funding for Capacity Building and governance, ensuring:
    • Leadership development, technical training, and workforce participation;
    • Co-designed policies that empower First Nations decision-making through shared governance models.
    • Recognition and application of Indigenous knowledge systems in long-term climate strategies.
  5. Align Policy with Cultural Knowledge: Commit to substantive partnerships that uphold the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples​.

Corporate & Financial System Architecture: 

  1. Sustainable Finance Roadmap: Recommend maintaining alignment and outcomes stipulated in the Sustainable Finance Roadmap:
    • Recommend Treasury endorse the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy.
    • Recommend passing Treasury Laws Amendment (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures) Bill 2023 in this term of Government.
    • Maintain momentum on reporting scope 1 - 3 for Group 1 - 3 entities while moving beyond climate risks to impacts of activities to align reporting with Australia’s emissions reduction targets​. 
  2. Taxonomies: Our preference is for the climate and nature taxonomies to be developed and integrated together to provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable investments.
  3. Asset Classification: We would also like to see measures that facilitate a shift from green labelling of assets to enabling genuine capital mobilisation and measurable impact in alignment with established impact standards such as those from the Global Impact Investing Network.
  4. Transition Planning: Recommend the development of a mandatory transition planning framework, in place of issue best practice guidance, to ensure credible and actionable climate targets and decarbonisation plans.
    • Recommend adequately resourcing regulators to monitor a mandatory transition planning regime.
    • Recommend aligning Australia’s transition planning with global frameworks to contribute to global reporting capabilities and improve interoperability. 

Intergenerational Budget Statement:

The actions we take today will shape the well-being, resilience, and prosperity of future generations. By embedding long-term thinking into policy frameworks, including the establishment of a Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and an independent Commissioner for Future Generations, Australia can create a legacy of opportunity and resilience for generations to come.

Conclusion

BFA calls on the Australian Government to take bold, decisive action in the 2025-26 Budget to accelerate the transition to a zero-emissions economy. By building on existing policy frameworks and addressing critical funding gaps, we can secure a sustainable and prosperous future for all Australians. This is our opportunity to align fiscal priorities with the urgent need to address climate change, ensuring a resilient and thriving economy. 

We welcome the opportunity to discuss these recommendations further with the respective department teams. Please don’t hesitate to contact Lisa Cliff, BFA Program Director, at [email protected] or +61 429 998 315 for any questions or further engagement.

 

Sincerely,

Lisa Cliff

Program Director

Better Futures Australia

[email protected]

References

Climate Change Authority, Parliament refers sectoral pathways review to Climate Change Authority. Retrieved from https://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/parliament-refers-sectoral-pathways-review-climate-change-authority 

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 2024, November 19. National Statement to COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan. 

International Energy Agency (IEA), 2023,Review on Australia's Climate Targets and Clean Energy Transition. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/news/australia-has-raised-its-climate-targets-and-now-needs-to-accelerate-its-clean-energy-transition; CSIRO, Expert Commentary: 2023 was the warmest year on record". Retrieved from: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2024/January/Expert-commentary-2023-warmest-year-on-record

COP28. (2023). Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge. Retrieved from https://www.cop28.com/en/global-renewables-and-energy-efficiency-pledge 

For detail, see recommendations from Rewiring Australia and the Jewish Climate Network submissions. 

Renew Australia for All, 2024, Energy Bill Savings Plan, https://renewaustraliaforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Renew-Australia-for-All-Households-Energy-Bills-Savings-Plan-PUBLIC.pdf 

See RE-Alliance and Community Power Agency submissions for detail. https://www.localenergyhubs.org.au/ 

Clean Energy Council, July 2024, Submission in response to ‘‘A Future Made in Australia: Unlocking Australia’s green iron, steel, alumina and aluminium opportunity,’ https://cleanenergycouncil.org.au/getmedia/1e360d7c-7045-4e5c-89b9-9cbb8e5aad23/clean-energy-council_green-metals_submission_july-2024_final.pdf

Climate Energy Finance, November 2024, Green Metal Statecraft: Forging Australia’s Green Iron Industry, https://climateenergyfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CEF_Green-Metal-Statecraft_FINAL.pdf

WWF, 2024, Australia’s Green Iron Key: Unlocking Asian Steel Decarbonisation, Securing Australia’s Economic Future, https://assets.wwf.org.au/image/upload/f_pdf/file_WWF_Green_Iron_Report_Highlights_Digital_FA

NSW Energy Co, Multi-million dollar boost for councils to help deliver NSW renewable energy future, https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/news/multi-million-dollar-boost-councils-help-deliver-nsw-renewable-energy-future

Next Economy, Five Ways to Empower Regions in Clean Energy Workforce Development. https://nexteconomy.com.au/work/five-ways-to-empower-regions-in-clean-energy-workforce-development/ 

Refer to the Renew Australia for All coalitions Adaptation recommendations. 

ASLC, 2024, Too Hot to Handle Report, https://www.aslcg.org/reports/

Refer to NRM Regions Australia, 2025, Pre-Budget Submission for further detail. 

Natural Hazards Research Australia, Nature positive disaster risk reduction solutions, 2024, https://www.naturalhazards.com.au/sites/default/files/2025-01/NHRA-Suncorp%20Nature%20positive%20solutions%20paper%202024.pdf

NSW Energy Co, . Multi-million dollar boost for councils to help deliver NSW renewable energy future, https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/news/multi-million-dollar-boost-councils-help-deliver-nsw-renewable-energy-future

Better Futures Australia, 2024, Local Government Climate Review, https://www.ironbarksustainability.com.au/fileadmin/public/downloads/2024/IRO_GEN_001_Local_Government_Climate_Review_2024_FA1.pdf

BFA, 2024, Transport & Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap Submission, https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/transport-and-infrastructure-net-zero-consultation-roadmap.pdf

CANA, 2024, Transport and Infrastructure Roadmap Consultation Joint Statement; and Living Streets 

University of Melbourne, 2024, The Economic Impacts of Childhood Asthma Caused by Vehicle Idling; Idle Off Budget Submission, https://www.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/5163150/MCF-Discussion-Paper_Anti-idling-brief_FINAL-DIGITAL.pdf. 

Living Streets Canberra, 2024, Transport & Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j7R-gButhg8rsBy04_ICAfJGwZvygNyN/view

30 by 30 Alliance, 2024. https://30by30.org.au/blog/2024/05/27/the-price-of-nature/

Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, 2024.  https://wentworthgroup.org/2024/07/blueprint-repair-australias-landscapes/

Climateworks Centre Decarbonisation Scenario, https://www.climateworkscentre.org/resource/climateworks-centre-decarbonisation-scenarios-2023-australia-can-still-meet-the-paris-agreement/

Local Government Climate Review, 2024. 

For example, see WWF Australia 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission. 

UN Convention on Biological Diversity, 19 December 2022, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, see Target 3, https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets/3

Fitzsimons J, Picone A, Partridge T, Cornish M. 2023, ‘Protecting Australia’s Nature: Pathways to protecting 30 per cent of land by 2030’, The Nature Conservancy, WWF-Australia, the Australian Land Conservation Alliance and the Pew Charitable Trusts.  https://www.natureaustralia.org.au/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/australia/Report3030_FINAL_web.pdf

See RE-Alliance and Community Power Agency submissions for detail. https://www.localenergyhubs.org.au/

Local Government Climate Review, 2024, www.betterfutures.org.au/2024_local_government_climate_review 

Energy Consumers Australia, 2023, Stepping Up: A smoother pathway to decarbonising homes, https://energyconsumersaustralia.com.au/publications/stepping-up 

Noroozinejad, E., & Morrison, N. (2024). Cheaper housing and better transport: what you need to know about Australia's new National Urban Policy. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/cheaper-housing-and-better-transport-what-you-need-to-know-about-australias-new-national-urban-policy-244947

Refer to BFA’s NUP Consultation Submission. 

Refer to 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submissions from Climate and Health Alliance and Doctors for the Environment Australia for further detail. 

Refer to recommendations from the First Nations Clean Energy Network

Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Act 2024, https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7176

BFA, 2024, CCA Issues Paper Submission. Accessible via: https://consult.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/2024-issues-paper/targetspathwaysandprogress/view/164 

Foundations for Tomorrow, 2024, For our Future: The Australian Future Generations Policy Brief, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6562bc3b0b80f547bdee287f/t/673e02f862902759f3a6bd3d/1732117256102/For+Our+Future+Nov+20_Full.pdf

 

Thank you to our partners

Better Futures Australia is supported by Climate Action Network Australia and is a member of the Alliances for Climate Action, a global network of domestic multi-stakeholder coalitions committed to supporting the delivery and enhancement of their countries' climate goals and collaborating to build the groundswell of climate action across the world.

WHEN
January 31, 2025 at 5:00pm - February 01, 2025 (Melbourne time)