Latest news with #SamuelsReview
West Australian
4 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Environment minister Murray Watt launches ‘reform train' with fresh talks on broken laws
Murray Watt has told everyone with an interest in overhauling approvals rules for the benefit of business and the environment to get on board the 'reform train.' The Environment Minister will bring about 20 stakeholder groups together on Thursday in Canberra to kick off consultation on revamping the 25-year-old Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. He has previously flagged he'll draw on the work his predecessor Tanya Plibersek did on the 'Nature Positive' version of reforms, which were shelved after failing to find support in Parliament. But he isn't wedded to any particular elements. Thursday's talks with environmental, mining, business, energy, residential construction, agriculture and Indigenous peak bodies will be high-level rather than looking at concrete proposals. 'To be honest, I think just getting these people in a room together is actually a positive step in itself, rather than everyone being in their corners throwing pot shots,' Senator Watt told The West, noting it had been more than a year since they'd all been in the same place. From his preliminary talks with stakeholders, he believed all were prepared to find compromises in recognition that environmental law reform was overdue and crucial. 'I'm going to be making clear at this meeting that the reform train is leaving the station. It is going to happen. As a government, we know broadly where we want to end up, but we haven't settled yet the exact destination for that train,' he said. 'All of these stakeholders have now got an opportunity to be on the train shaping the destination, or they can choose to remain on the platform, shouting from the sidelines.' Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson was encouraged by the new minister's rhetoric and his commitment to 'robust and transparent consultation' with a broad range of stakeholders. 'It has also been encouraging to hear Minister Watt reference recommendations contained in the Samuels Review as providing the framework for the reforms,' she said. 'Removing unnecessary duplication is one of the most effective ways to accelerate project approvals without compromising on the rigour of assessments.' Minerals Council of Australia head Tania Constable said 'practical changes' to the EPBC laws were urgently needed and her group was 'committed to working constructively with the Albanese Government to ensure these reforms deliver genuine progress'. Bran Black, who leads the Business Council of Australia, also pledged to work constructively, saying it was clear to everyone the status quo wasn't working. 'It's critical we speed up approvals, so we can build more homes and deliver much needed critical minerals projects,' he said. Australian Conservation Foundation boss Kelly O'Shannessy said 'the clock is ticking' on overhauling the broken laws for everyone's benefit. 'If you have clear national environmental standards that essentially set the rules around nature protection, businesses can then apply those as they're making decisions and assessments, and so can state governments. It makes the whole thing much more efficient,' she said.
West Australian
01-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Federal election 2025: Anthony Albanese avoids questions on details of new nature positive laws
Anthony Albanese has refused to detail his new plan for nature positive laws, while standing next to Roger Cook after the WA Premier labelled the previous legislation a threat to the State's jobs. The pair were on the campaign trail in the crucial seat of Tangney on Thursday, when the Prime Minister was asked whether a new environmental regulator would be a compliance-only model as demanded by industry leaders. Mr Albanese initially tried to avoid the question. 'What we'll have is a policy that's good for industry,' he said. 'I've met with Rebecca (Tomkinson) already from the Chamber of Minerals here in WA, I've had discussions with the Premier here, we've had discussions with conservation groups. 'What I want is something that's good for business and good for sustainability, and that's what they want as well.' Pressed a further four times on whether the new version would be 'compliance only', Mr Albanese still refused to answer. 'You'll get to see the legislation when it's done,' he said. 'What we will do is not pre-empt processes of consultation. We treat people with respect, that's what my Government does. We engage with the industry.' The Liberal party immediately seized on the non-answer and warned voters that Labor could be forced to negotiate with the Greens. 'Western Australians can't believe anything that comes out of this Prime Minister's mouth on the diabolical nature positive, mining negative laws,' WA Senator Michaelia Cash said. 'What we do know is that a Labor Government will introduce these laws that will be a disaster for the WA economy. 'If they are in a minority government with the Greens and Teals they will be even worse. Mr Albanese is a risk to the future prosperity of WA.' The Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA welcomed the Prime Minister's commitment to consult further but was wary about his promise a new bill would be 'in accordance with what was recommended by the Samuels review'. 'It is important to note the Samuels Review did not recommend establishing an EPA with decision making powers,' CME chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson said. 'Creating a new federal decision maker will add yet another layer of duplication to what is already a lengthy and complex project assessment process. 'CME continues to question the need for a Federal Environmental Protection Agency given the robust procedures already in place at our independent State-based EPA.' The controversial Nature Positive legislation was shelved, for a second time, in February when Mr Albanese declared there was 'no path' left to deliver a 'sensible' national EPA days after Mr Cook declared it a 'threat to WA jobs'. 'I'm just standing up for WA jobs and I'm very pleased with the outcome,' Mr Cook said at the time. 'This is a Prime Minister that gets Western Australia, he's shown great leadership in making this decision.'
