Sussan Ley declares Coalition will back environment law overhaul, with some changes
Sussan Ley has declared the Coalition will back Labor’s environmental law overhaul as long as the Government makes seven key changes.
In doing so, the Opposition Leader is staring down some on the fringes of her party, who have been noisily agitating to walk away from negotiations, despite a widespread assessment that the existing system works for no one.
“The Coalition is seeking sensible amendments. If they are adopted, then we will be supportive of legislation next week,” she said.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“However, if the government rejects sensible suggestions and chooses to put jobs at risk, then we will vote against them, with an open mind to revisit negotiations next year.”
Environment Minister Murray Watt is worried the Liberal Party’s internal instability makes striking a deal with the Coalition risky, even if preferable.
The bills to reform the 25-year-old Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act are scheduled for debate in the Senate next Wednesday. The Government does not yet have the numbers to pass them and a committee inquiry is still running.
The Government needs support from either the Coalition or Greens to pass the laws.
Senator Watt reiterated on Thursday that he was genuinely open to a deal with either party.
A year ago, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese killed off a deal with the Greens to pass an earlier version of the legislation, in part because of concern from WA.
Ms Ley said Labor shouldn’t be rash and “rush to failure” with its determination to push the laws through next week.
“If Labor wants to rush, that is their choice. The Coalition’s choice is to get this right,” she said.
She listed seven changes, which align with requests from an alliance of 26 business groups put to Labor and the Coalition last weekend.
These include assurances that the minister will keep decision-making powers and that emissions reporting won’t be used for assessments, reinstating fast-tracked approval pathways, narrower definitions of “unacceptable impacts” and “net gain”, and changes to fines.
However, The West understands shadow environment minister Angie Bell has previously given Senator Watt a list of 23 changes the Opposition wants.
“The sensible amendments we’ve sought to negotiate echo that of business and industry,” Ms Bell said.
“We are providing reasonable solutions and actively seeking a way forward that benefits jobs and the environment. Environmental reform is too important to get wrong.”
Senator Watt is working on amendments to meet the Coalition’s requests, aiming to offer them before Monday’s shadow cabinet meeting.
The Government is readying to give ground on some but not all of the amendments. Likely red lines are around the powers of the Environmental Protection Authority and the inclusion of emissions reporting.
Senator Watt called on all sides to stop playing political games.
“Be in no doubt: We will be passing these reforms next week, and it’s now up to the Coalition and the Greens to decide whether they want to get on board. If we can’t pass the laws with one side, we will do it with the other, it’s as simple as that,” he told the Queensland Media Club on Thursday.
After Nationals MPs Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce likened the threats to deal with the Greens as a gun to the Coalition’s head, Senator Watt called on the party to “just for one week put aside their leadership turmoil” and focus on the benefits for business.
He also urged business leaders to lobby the Coalition to play ball, echoing Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ message to WA industry heavyweights.
Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said Ms Ley was a “dead woman walking”, who had continually been rolled by her colleagues.
She said it was time for Senator Watt to “pick a lane” if he was serious about passing the bills.
“We’ll keep talking if the government wants to keep talking, but let’s be really clear, having a meeting with the Greens and having a meeting with the Liberal Party, who don’t even believe in climate change, it’s chalk and cheese,” she said.
