Nature Positive: Labor’s Tanya Plibersek open to stripping back EPA in a bid to win Coalition support
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is open to watering down her controversial Nature Positive Plan – including gutting the flagship Environment Protection Agency – in a bid to secure the Coalition’s support.
The Nightly understands Labor is considering stripping the proposed agency of decision-making powers on project applications, reducing its role to policing nature laws and enforcing tougher penalties.
The possible concession is understood to have been raised in talks between Labor and the Coalition and communicated directly to key industry insiders.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It would, if agreed, create an EPA more in line with Labor’s 2022 election commitment and address industry concerns about the risks of handing an independent agency the power to approve projects.
The potential compromise indicates Ms Plibersek would prefer to strike a deal with the Coalition, allowing her to avoid the Greens and their demands for a so-called “climate trigger” that business warns will cripple the economy.
It could also be a tactic to spook the Greens into supporting Labor’s model.
Ms Plibersek declined to comment on possible concessions, referring The Nightly to a statement from earlier this week in which she confirmed negotiating were underway across Parliament to get it passed.
The Nightly this week reported the Opposition was yet to reach a final position, with talks with Labor expected to intensify after a Senate inquiry into the proposal hands down its findings on Monday.
The Coalition is expected to ultimately oppose the legislation given its sustained criticism of Labor’s Nature Positive agenda, and the political reality that some Nationals will not accept an EPA in any form.
But the possibility of significant concessions from Labor, combined with pressure from business groups who want the major parties to strike a deal to sideline the Greens, will give the Coalition something to think about.
Ms Plibersek used question time on Wednesday to challenge the Greens and the Coalition to wave through the changes, which she insists will benefit business and nature.
“The Greens political party has a chance to vote for stronger protections for nature. They should take it,” she said.
“And just incidentally Mr Speaker, those opposite (the Opposition) also have the opportunity to see better, faster decisions made for business.”
If the EPA is scaled-backed, responsibility for project assessments and approvals would remain with environment department bureaucrats and the minister.
The new watchdog, to be known as Environment Protection Australia, would have the power to issue “stop work” orders to halt projects in breach of nature laws.
Fines of up to $780 million and prison terms of up to seven years could also be imposed for serious and intentional breaches.
