ABC Environment

Public hearings for a water markets inquiry kick off across the Murray-Darling Basin in two weeks amid allegations investors are hoarding water rights at the expense of farmers.

Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has vowed to rebuild an old military highway through the Amazon. Is this a plan to drive the economy or a more sinister push to annex parts of the Amazon?

The National Irrigators Council says an investigation into the release of satellite imagery which appeared to show some farm dams filling during an embargo should also look at improving reporting systems.

The Queensland State Government has fast-tracked a bill that introduces two-year jail terms and hefty fines for environmental protesters who use lock-on devices.

The petition is based on a parliamentary e-petition which closed last week with more than 400,000 signatures.

Is there are a problem with democracy or are some people just sore losers? There was supposed to be a war over water by now but it hasn't happened yet. The reality is that States are much more likely to cooperate over shared water than go to war. What is a luxury belief and why are they so unfair? I could eat a hollow log full of green ants right now. A dog's eye should take the edge off.

Australia along with France and the European Union will be pushing for a major new marine protected area in East Antarctica at an international forum starting in Hobart today.

A new $35 million Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence will be based at The University of Newcastle and will develop new efficiencies to the mining industry.

A large aquifer in Victoria's Latrobe Valley could support whole industries and recreational facilities.

What's the best way to travel tens of kilometres over uneven terrain in hot sun and stuffy humidity, where brown snakes and water buffalo roam the roads?

This week we take a look at drought across the Nullarbor. Western Australian communities and farmers are also struggling with dry conditions, but some are reluctant to speak about it because of the dire situation in the east. And we take a look at the battle for water underneath our feet.

It startled the cows, intrigued the locals and excited scientists around the world. Fifty years on, the Murchison meteorite still defines a town and yields new discoveries every year.

Before taking up his new position as Australia's ambassador to the US, Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos speaks to RN Drive about the rules-based system and climate change policies.

As we become more aware of our relationship to the Earth there is an urge for many to nurture a more sustainable and ethical way of living. But this hankering to leave modern society for an alternative life is not new. According to PhD Candidate Rachel Goldlust it goes back before the 1900's.

Among those who've been anticipating this morning's announcement from the National Farmer's Federation is Water Minister David Littleproud.

The NFF wants drought relief programs to be monitored and evaluated to establish what does and doesn't work.

Plastic is clogging up our landfills, our oceans and our bodies. Ken in Brisbane asks "Will there be a substitute for plastic anytime soon? Surely there's a Nobel Prize for this (and another way to clean up the tonnes of plastic currently polluting the oceans)." ABC Science reporter Suzannah Lyons has been looking into this.

Along with the Eiffel Tower and the Panama Canal, the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric scheme has been named as one of the most impressive engineering landmarks in the world. Not only is it the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in this country, it is also said to have sparked the birth of multicultural Australia.

Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon was savaged in Labor's factional caucus meetings last night for publicly arguing his party adopt the Coalition's emissions reduction targets, but he defends his stance tonight.

The Off Track family is growing and we want you to know about it. Meet our little sister podcast - Noisy by Nature.