UPDATE: Mining and industry leaders are urgently calling for a swift agreement on crucial environmental reforms as negotiations intensify over the government’s extensive package to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. With only weeks left before the parliamentary session concludes for the year, time is running out for lawmakers to finalize these critical changes.
Environment Minister Murray Watt is racing against the clock to push the legislation through the Senate before December 2023. The stakes are high, and the pressure is mounting for a resolution that could significantly impact project approvals across multiple sectors, including mining and agriculture.
Warren Pearce, spokesperson for the mining industry, expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “I feel that sense of urgency; we’ve got as close as we’re going to get on a compromised deal.” Pearce emphasized the need for parliamentarians to “step in and finish the job” on these long-awaited laws, which have been under consideration for over five years.
However, the path to agreement remains fraught with challenges. Pearce identified a critical deal breaker: a clause that could halt projects deemed to have an “unacceptable impact” on the environment. He warned that the current threshold is “far too low,” risking significant disruptions to projects across the resources sector and beyond.
Opposition figures are voicing their concerns. Nationals leader David Littleproud criticized Senator Watt’s handling of the complex 1,500-page bill, accusing him of rushing it through for a “political win before Christmas.” Littleproud stated, “Murray Watt has buggered this,” reflecting the frustration of many in the coalition.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley condemned Labor’s approach, alleging it amounts to a “cheap political fix” with contradictory amendments for both coalition and Greens. “They’re completely different, and he’s saying, ‘please, somebody agree with me’,” Ley remarked.
Despite the backlash, Senator Watt remains optimistic about securing the legislation. He has made concessions to the Greens, including reinstating native forestry within the environmental regime and excluding coal and gas projects from the “national interest power,” which allows ministers to grant approvals without extensive reviews.
On the coalition side, concessions include limiting stop-work orders and potential adjustments to fines for environmental breaches. These negotiations are critical, as lower house MPs have been warned they may need to stay in Canberra for an additional sitting day to accommodate late-night amendments in the Senate.
With the clock ticking down to Christmas, industry stakeholders and lawmakers alike are on high alert, aware that the outcome of these negotiations could have lasting effects on economic and environmental policies in Australia. As discussions progress, all eyes will be on the Senate to see if a breakthrough can be achieved in time.
