D-day for deal on contentious environmental law reforms
With negotiations coming to a definitive end, Labor is expected to reach an agreement on the historic overhaul of environmental laws.
Greens leader Larissa Waters and environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the Greens were given legislative changes to secure their support.
Labor remained optimistic that a deal would be reached with the Greens or the coalition to introduce the legislation by the end of the year.
An agreement must be reached by Thursday for the 1,500-page bill package to be presented to the Senate.
The bill aims to better protect the environment while overcoming the backlog of critical infrastructure, energy and housing projects by streamlining approval processes.
The changes for the Greens were aimed at removing fossil fuel projects from fast-track approval pathways and ensuring they could not be subject to a new “national interest” exemption from environmental laws.
Another change was the federal government’s retention of the “water trigger,” which requires any impacts on water resources to be taken into account when approving a project.
For the coalition, Labor has proposed five amendments, including the implementation of a 14-day work stoppage order imposed by the federal Environmental Protection Authority.
The coalition also expressed concerns about the powers of the proposed national environmental protection agency, and in response Labor agreed to slightly limit the powers of the department’s boss.
Negotiations are strengthening in favor of the Greens, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley yet to meet face to face with the prime minister on reforms.
Parliament is scheduled to meet on Thursday evening, but politicians have been told to stay until Friday in case negotiations drag on until the last minute.
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