BREAKING: Coalition Delivers Crushing Blow to Aussie Environment Reforms – ‘No Way’ They’ll Support Current Laws
- Critical reforms to Australia’s environment laws in jeopardy as Coalition rejects government’s package
- Government remains confident of striking a deal, but Coalition and Greens demand changes to ‘flawed’ laws
In a devastating blow to Australia’s environment, the Coalition has announced it cannot support the government’s once-in-a-generation reforms to the country’s environmental laws in their current form. The massive 1,500-page package, introduced to parliament on Thursday, has been deemed unacceptable by the opposition, casting a dark cloud over the future of the country’s natural heritage.
Environment Minister Murray Watt has expressed confidence that a deal can still be struck, but the Coalition’s Shadow Environment Minister Angie Bell has issued a stark warning: “We can’t agree to it” in its current shape. Bell has slammed the reforms, citing concerns over jobs, investment, and productivity, and has refused to rule out the possibility of a deal being struck this year.
The reforms have been met with fierce resistance from the Greens, who are demanding changes to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the exclusion of native forestry from the Act. Watt has acknowledged that there is “room to move” on these issues, but the government remains adamant that its reforms will achieve a “balanced package of reforms”.
In a shocking development, Watt has also revealed that ministerial intervention powers in the bill could be used to fast-track critical minerals projects, sparking fears of environmental chaos. The government claims the power would be used to accelerate projects that meet environmental standards, but critics argue it could be exploited to push through projects that pose a significant threat to the environment.
The government has struck an agreement with the United States to step up investment in critical minerals, and Watt has hinted that the intervention power could be used to approve projects that meet national security or defence needs. However, he has refused to rule out the possibility of using the power to approve gas projects, sparking further controversy.
As the future of Australia’s environment hangs in the balance, one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher. Can the government overcome the opposition’s concerns and push through its reforms, or will they be forced back to the drawing board? Only time will tell.