Ed Husic warns environment reforms could override environmental checks

“Without urgent action and a full package of reforms, we risk completely losing our native wildlife and iconic natural areas,” he will say, according to excerpts from his speech.

Watt could pass the bill into law with the support of the Coalition or the Greens in the Senate and called on them to put partisan politics aside.

He accused the Greens of a policy of “absolutism” and of using criticism of their reforms as “a fundraising tool to win back the seats they have lost”. Watt said the Liberals were “advocating a split bill to avoid splitting the party room and angering business groups in the process.”

“It is no surprise that environmental law reform in Australia has proven to be one of the most difficult tasks in politics,” Watt said.

The current Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act has national interest powers largely related to natural disaster-related actions, such as avoiding a lengthy assessment process for work such as clearing hazardous trees near roads after a bushfire.

The reforms proposed by Watt introduce a new provision for “proposals of national interest”, which could include mines or wind farms, selecting projects of strategic importance and exempting them from environmental assessment.

Loading

Husic’s warning echoed concerns voiced by some conservation groups.

James Trezise, ​​chief executive of the Biodiversity Council, said future environment ministers will face unprecedented pressure from industry to use the national interest exemption for their projects.

“The government gives itself broad powers to override any protections it might put in place for nature,” Trezise said.

“The government has promised to rebuild trust and integrity through clear rules on decision-making – this proposal shows that why this is important has long been forgotten.”

Conservation groups emphasized that the bill would also provide important new protections for the environment, and business groups welcomed Watt’s moves to streamline project evaluations to speed up project development.

The most contentious issues for the industry are the “unacceptable impacts” test, which could allow the environment minister to veto projects, the obligation to guarantee that all damage to nature is offset by investment in environmental protection, and the powers of a new national watchdog to impose fines for breaches.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up for our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.