Peak business groups slam proposed Nature Positive laws and climate trigger at heated Senate inquiry

Australia’s businesses are increasingly united against Federal Labor’s radical environmental law reforms, with one lobby group boss stating job opportunities will be whittled down to taxis and cafes.

A Senate inquiry into the Albanese Government’s Nature Positive plan — policy reforms that will add extra layers of environmental scrutiny for major project approvals — on Friday heard from the nation’s business and farming advocacy groups.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief economist Aaron Morey said it was an “understatement” to say the Chamber’s members were concerned about the opaque proposals and said there would be a huge impact on major resources projects, which would flow across regional economies.

“We must continue to invest in and develop new industries, otherwise we’ll wake up one day, and the only job opportunities for young people in regional towns will be working in the local cafe or driving a taxi,” he said.

“Housing and construction companies are concerned these changes could limit future housing developments, pushing up rents and housing prices . . . exacerbating a cost-of-living crisis.”

Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said “pretty significant amendments” are needed to make the reforms economically feasible, while National Farmers Federal boss Tony Mahar said the “duplication and confusion” caused by Nature Positive could threaten food security.

The Senate inquiry had a number of heated moments with hearing chair Senator Karen Grogan telling Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to contain herself after she interrupted a line of questioning by Senator Jonathon Duniam.

Of specific concern to businesses in Australia is the looming threat of a Greens-backed “climate trigger” being shoehorned into the environmental reforms.

A climate trigger means all projects estimated to produce more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year would need a special exemption from the Environment Minister.

Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson said industry was still “in the dark” about the design of the reforms.

“Depending on that design, a climate trigger could be a pseudo ban on development across Australia,” she said.

“With the establishment of a Federal Environmental Protection Authority on top of the WA EPA, straight away there’s regulatory duplication and inefficiency.”

Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief executive Warren Pearce reiterated that sentiment and indicated that the introduction of such a trigger would be ironic.

“The irony of the Nature Positive reforms is that we will be jeopardising our ability to develop the mineral projects we need for the energy transition, due to more odious requirements and further delays placed on projects trying to get off the ground,” he said.

“On behalf of over 550 members, many of which are in the critical minerals space, we hold grave concerns for duplication, further delays, more red tape and a lack of accountability, that will be delivered if this Nature Positive legislation is implemented in its current form.”

Mr Pearce also rebuked Ms Hanson-Young’s assertion that scope three emissions needed to be counted as part of a climate trigger.

“I think you have to recognise that we’re actually on part of one planet, and ultimately, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to actually duplicate the counting of emissions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O’Shanassy wants the Environmental Protection Authority to be the default adjudicator on projects, with the Environment Minister only stepping in very rare cases where there is a clear national interest.

“We need a national EPA to get the politics out of decision-making, to be independent and make independent decisions on the facts to ensure nature is protected,” she said.

Ms O’Shanassy, who fronted the media alongside other environmental groups before Friday’s hearings, also urged the Federal Government to include a climate trigger in the Bill.