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Multi-Sectoral Roundtable: First 100 Days Advocacy

This is our second quarterly roundtable for 2025, bringing together members and partners across sectors to share climate advocacy priorities and prepare for post-election policy scenarios.

These sessions are an opportunity for to hear from BFA Sector Working Groups and allied coalitions, share strategic insights, and coordinate action to raise Australia’s climate ambition.

With the federal election rapidly approaching, Better Futures Australia invites you to help shape an impactful coordinated advocacy plan for the first 100 days of the next government.

Together, we'll:

  • Recap what was—and wasn’t—funded in the recent budget and policy announcements
  • Share BFA’s proposed First 100 Days advocacy priorities and shared messaging
  • Plan coordinated advocacy across sectors, including:
    • Joint briefings and roundtables with Ministers and Departments
    • Shared public communications and narrative alignment
    • A Joint Statement to feed into Australia’s NDC (national climate plan) update and COP30 positioning

Why this matters now

While the March 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:
  • 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. Join the Roundtable – Align on shared post-election policy advocacy priorities
  2. Engage through your sector – Help shape targeted strategies via BFA sector working groups
  3. 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

WHEN
April 30, 2025 at 1:00pm
WHERE
zoom
online
Australia
Google map and directions
rsvp

Ric Brazzale | Chairman of the Green Energy Group


Ric Brazzale is Chairman of the Green Energy Group and has more than 35 years’ experience in the energy sector.

The Group comprises Green Energy Trading, Green Energy Markets and National Carbon Bank of Australia. Through (GEM). The group supports renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses roll out clean energy solution to customers. The Group originates renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon credits across Australia. Through Green Energy Markets we provide market insights and analysis that assists clients in making better decisions in the rollout of clean energy.

Prior to establishing the Green Energy Group in 2007, Ric headed the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), now the Clean Energy Council, a leading advocate for renewable energy and energy efficiency markets in Australia. Before this, Ric worked in a number of business development and finance roles with Fletcher Challenge Energy, John Holland and Woodside Petroleum.

Ric is also President of the REC Agents Association, President of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Association and a Director of the Energy Savings Industry Association. Ric is also Chair of the National Steering Committee of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics and a Director of Solar Citizens.



Join Ric at the 2022 Better Futures Forum:

Wednesday 7 September, 3:00pm - 4:00pm AEST | Roundtable: A renewable energy storage target 


 


Dr. Pichamon Yeophantong | Associate Professor and Head of Research at the Centre for Future Defence and National Security, Deakin University at the Australian War College


Pichamon Yeophantong is Associate Professor and Head of Research at the Centre for Future Defence and National Security, Deakin University at the Australian War College. She is also an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow. Trained as a political scientist and China specialist, her research focuses on  the political economy of sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific. She also works extensively with environmental human rights defenders in the region. Pichamon currently serves as the Member from Asia-Pacific States on the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. She also sits on the Advisory Committee of the Australian Water Partnership, as well as the Board and Research Committee of the Jubilee Australia Research Centre. Previously, Pichamon held academic positions at UNSW, Princeton University, and the University of Oxford. She is also the recipient of the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences’ 2018 Australia Future Leader Prize.

 

See Dr Yeophantong at the 2022 Better Futures Forum:

Wednesday 7 September, 11:00AM - 12:00PM AEST | Keynote Panel: Preparing Australia for climate impacts in the Asia Pacific


 


Michael Wheatland | Sustainable Processing Calix Limited


Michael Wheatland is an Internationally Chartered Engineer turned Manager who is passionate about sustainable outcomes through carbon reduction technology, infrastructure management and clean energy projects. As the Sustainable Processing Business Manager at Calix, Michael is responsible for the commercial, technical and business development of new and innovative applications for the Calix technology around the world. Michael currently has projects running across three continents which are creating more sustainable outcomes for existing industry and creating new technology to improve efficiency of existing extraction processes. Michael has successfully implemented multi-million dollar projects with Rio Tinto, BHP, Alcoa and now projects with Calix. all of which contribute to his vision of a more sustainable world.

See Michael at the 2022 Better Futures Forum:

Tuesday 6 September, 2.30pm - 3.30pm AEST | Panel Discussion: Policy & Action to decarbonise sectors and create better outcomes for all Australians

Tuesday 6 September, 4.00pm - 5.15pm AEST | Sector Workshops & Submissions: Pivoting industrial sectors to a net zero pathway / Unlocking the potential for sustainable mining, construction and more

Wednesday 7 September, 3:00pm - 4:00pm AEST | Policy Submission Roundtables: Pivoting industrial sectors to a net zero pathway / Unlocking the potential for sustainable mining, construction and more