Media Release – Fundamental problems with Labor’s Nature Positive Bills still aren’t addressed

9 September 2024

The Federal Coalition has savaged the direction of the Labor Government’s Nature Positive agenda and Tanya Plibersek’s handling of the environment portfolio following a committee inquiry into its three Bills before the Senate, including the proposed establishment of a Federal Environment Protection Agency.

Though the Labor Government have made concessions, as flagged by the Prime Minister in Western Australia last week, Federal Shadow Environment Minister Jonno Duniam has said that further significant amendments must still be made for the Coalition to consider the Bills acceptable. This has also been communicated in negotiations with the Government.

This includes changes around the role of the CEO of the EPA, the penalty regime and most importantly, the introduction of the full overhaul of the EPBC Act, as has been outlined in the Coalition’s dissenting report.

Shadow Environment Minister Jonno Duniam has poured cold water over the Government’s approach:

“Tanya Plibersek wants to tick a box in the environment portfolio by introducing a Federal bureaucracy on top of each State and Territory EPA before updating our environmental approval laws, as was promised would be completed last year. In almost every discussion I have had with stakeholders, it is clear that they agree this is a nonsensical order of doing things.”

“The Coalition’s comments make clear our reservations that the Government’s Bills are ill thought through. We are unable to accept these Bills in their current form.”

“The Government want to get what they think is a win in the portfolio this term of Parliament through the passage of a Federal EPA, no matter the cost. They have not adequately considered the benefits and risks for the environment, the States and Territories, nor the significant effects on our economic activity and our prospects to attract investment.”

“A Federal EPA is an added layer of bureaucracy that is the last thing our economy and environment needs. This is still just a new bureaucracy simply to administer broken laws.”

“The Government still haven’t got the basics right when it comes to environmental legislation. No matter how much they dress up the supposed benefits of a Federal EPA, the order of reform that Professor Graeme Samuel outlined in his formal review of the EPBC Act has not been followed. The order of reform is wrong, and the Environment Minister knows it.”