NATURE POSITIVE: Federal Opposition dismisses EPA concession as a ‘distraction’

Labor is no closer to securing a deal to create its controversial Environment Protection Agency after the federal Opposition dismissed a formal offer to gut the watchdog.

Shadow environment minister Jonno Duniam claimed the concession — revealed by The Nightly — was an attempt to distract from Tanya Plibersek’s controversial decision to effectively torpedo Regis Resources’ $1 billion goal mine.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed the Government is considering stripping its proposed EPA of any decision-making powers in a bid to win the Coalition’s support for a centrepiece of its Nature Positive plan.

The Opposition lobbied for the change — which aligns with Labor’s 2022 election commitment — as part of a raft of demands on the legislation.

But the concession has failed to secure the Opposition’s support.

Senator Duniam said Mr Albanese was attempting to distract from the furore surrounding Ms Plibersek’s decision to use Aboriginal cultural heritage laws to scuttle the McPhillamy’s gold mine in regional NSW.

“The Prime Minister wanted to say something that he thought would appeal to WA voters, but his Government’s hapless and hopeless record on environmental law and policy speaks for itself,” Senator Duniam said.

“The environment minister still hasn’t delivered updated national environmental laws, as was promised.

“All that is being proposed now is a new bureaucracy in the form of a Federal EPA to administer these broken laws.

“We will continue to carefully consider all legislation that comes to the Parliament, including scrutinising how it will deliver on the need for more projects and jobs in Australia.”

WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash said Labor’s offer was an admission its policy would be “detrimental” to the State.

The Nightly last month revealed the option to limit the EPA’s role to compliance and enforcement of nature laws was raised in private talks between the Coalition and Labor, then communicated to select industry groups.

Mining and business groups have been encouraging the Opposition to cut a deal with Labor, which would sideline the Greens and their demands for a “climate trigger”.

The negotiations will ramp up after a Senate inquiry report into the proposed EPA is published next Monday, with debate on the legislation expected as soon as next week.

Appearing on Channel 7’s Sunrise, Ms Plibersek sidestepped questions about Mr Albanese’s offer but confirmed Labor was open to accommodating “sensible suggestions” from other parties and independents.

“I’ve said all along that this was going to take common sense and compromise and cooperation, and that’s what we’re prepared to do,” she said.

The offer to water down the EPA has sparked alarm among the Greens and environment groups, which have been pushing Labor to create a powerful nature cop.

Greens environment spokesman Sarah Hanson-Young said gutting the watchdog would be the “final nail in the coffin for Labor’s environmental credibility before the next election”.