The Greener Way

Energy security vs net zero: What Australia’s new “fuel czar” means for investors
This week on The Greener Way, host Michelle Baltazar speaks with economist Nicki Hutley about energy security after the federal government appointed Anthea Harris as a new “fuel czar” to oversee Australia’s fuel supply amid Middle East conflict and rising oil and LNG prices.
Hutley explains how fuel supply risks flow through the whole economy—from transport and manufacturing to agriculture—and why petrol demand is relatively inelastic.
They discuss how short-term fuel security measures should not derail Australia’s net zero reduction targets, arguing governments can address near-term risks while accelerating renewable rollout and planning.
00:13 Energy security returns
01:03 Why a fuel czar?
02:08 Fuel shocks hit economy
04:39 Renewables and net zero
06:38 Keep transition moving
07:55 Investing in energy security
09:36 Uncertainty and budget watch
Links: https://www.nickihutleyeconomics.com.au/

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Australia’s mandatory climate reporting (2026): What investors need to know | Dr Mary Stewart (ERM)
This week on The Greener Way, host Michelle Baltazar speaks with Dr Mary Stewart of ERM about Australia’s new mandatory climate disclosure regime introduced in 2024 and what the first wave of calendar‑year reports, due next month, means for investors, boards, and markets.
Dr. Stewart frames climate as a knowable risk with opportunity, urging investors to look for clear, accessible disclosure of what companies know, don’t know, and how they will close gaps on issues like scope 3 and scenario analysis, and argues strong Australian reporting could raise global investor expectations.
01:29 What mandatory reporting is
02:22 Who must report first
03:41 Early report quality check
05:43 Adequate versus gold standard
07:23 CEO And CFO ownership
09:49 Sector risks and market impact
13:16 Investor checklist for disclosures
15:01 Australia sets global expectations
15:52 Wrap up and disclaimer

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Gender pay gaps in financial services: What WGEA’s new targets mean for employers & investors
In this episode of The Greener Way, host Michelle Baltazar talks with Mary Wooldridge, CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), about why gender equality in financial services matters and how new national reforms will affect employers, investors and super funds.
Wooldridge explains that WGEA collects yearly gender‑equality data from businesses with more than 100 employees and publishes their gender pay gaps. The latest results show some improvement, with an overall median pay gap of 11.2%, but a much higher 21.4% in financial services, along with ongoing imbalances across pay levels.
She also outlines new rules requiring large organisations to set and meet gender‑equality targets over three years, with public reporting and consequences for those that fall behind.
01:01 How pay gaps are measured
03:01 Key findings and stats
04:42 Financial services reality check
05:55 Reforms and target setting
06:58 Compliance and consequences
08:10 Choosing the right targets
09:44 What works in practice
11:56 Board and C-suite accountability
14:35 On ESG and gender equality
Links: WGEA Data Explorer

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Indigenous Cultural Heritage Protection: Investor Risk, Responsibility & First Nations-Led Governance | The Greener Way
This week on The Greener Way, host Michelle Baltazar speaks with Kado Muir, chair of the National Native Title Council ahead of the RIAA Conference in May where Muir is one of the panelists on a session titled, “Indigenous Cultural Heritage Protection: Investor Risk and Responsibility”.
Muir argues that tools already exist to protect indigenous heritage, but incentives and governance are lacking, including too few First Nations people in decision-making roles and boards.
He urges investors and governments to screen risks, work with First Nations governance institutions, and make cultural heritage protection a non-negotiable in boardroom discussions.
02:20 Responsible investment steps
03:46 Scorecards and governance gaps
06:46 Real world liability examples
11:45 Native title and investor risk
15:53 Building a virtuous cycle
17:50 Standardising with First Nations
19:05 Board representation is a blind spot
22:21 Five years after Juukan Gorge
23:40 Progress and podcast wrap
02:20 Responsible investment steps
03:46 Scorecards and governance gaps
06:46 Real world liability examples
11:45 Native title and investor risk
15:53 Building a virtuous cycle
19:05 Board representation blind spot
22:21 Five years after Juukan
23:40 Positive note and wrap
Links:
https://www.kadomuir.com.au/
Podcast: My culture story with Kado Muir

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Despite global sustainable funds recording more than US$80 billion in net outflows in 2025, Australia and New Zealand are bucking the trend and continue to attract new capital.
In this episode, Australian Ethical deputy chief investment officer John Woods unpacks how ESG investing is evolving in 2026, explaining why there's still plenty of opportunities out there for sustainable investors, the importance of transparency, and the need for a reliable ESG fund labelling system.
He also breaks down Australian Ethical’s approach to investing in emerging markets, and how it's looking at renewables, climate tech, private credit, and solar‑driven infrastructure.

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