Labor’s last-ditch olive branch on stalled nature laws
Labor is making concessions on environmental laws as a last resort to implement stalled changes.
A controversial provision allowing coal and gas projects to be approved if it is in the national interest could be rescinded by the government’s Greens vote in the Senate.
Environment Minister Murray Watt is meeting with the minor party and coalition to find a party that can provide the necessary support for the reforms.
The government plans to streamline approvals for major housing and energy projects, while also strengthening nature protection.
To rally the Greens, Senator Watt has proposed repealing amendments that would have allowed the national interest test to be used in approving fossil fuel projects.
However, the minority party demands that natural forests be better protected and that the environmental impact of the project be taken into account during the approval process before the proposed reforms are signed.
Labor has a week to pass environmental and conservation reforms before parliament reconvenes later this year, but a deal must be reached for the legislation to pass a hostile Senate.
Independent senator David Pocock also called for fossil fuel projects to be excluded from the national interest test and for assurances on streamlined approvals.
“I cannot support these reforms without significant changes to the law,” Senator Pocock said on Saturday.
“We have a once-in-a-generation chance to get these reforms right, and I urge the government to listen to feedback and take the time to make sure these laws actually deliver on what they were promised.”
The coalition has published proposed changes and will pass legislation if conditions are met, but some of Labor’s red lines remain.
These include how emissions are reported and the establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency.
The coalition wants to scrap reporting, reduce fines and keep decision-making power in the government’s environment department.
But this has raised concerns that a future minister could use his powers to flag and fend off environmentally damaging projects; The Greens took advantage of this possibility when attacking these proposals.
Labor laws allow the agency to halt projects if environmental destruction is believed to be imminent, but the coalition warned this would create too much suspicion.
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