UPDATE: Negotiations intensify as mining and industry leaders urge swift action on crucial environmental reforms. The Australian government is racing against time to finalize a deal on the comprehensive Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act before the end of the parliamentary year.
As the last parliamentary sitting week of December 2023 unfolds, Environment Minister Murray Watt is under pressure to push the mammoth 1,500-page bill through the Senate before Christmas. Industry representatives warn that vital projects hang in the balance if a deal is not struck soon.
Mining industry spokesperson Warren Pearce expressed a sense of urgency during an interview on ABC Radio, stating, “I feel that sense of urgency; we’ve got as close as we’re going to get on a compromised deal.” Pearce emphasized that a clause preventing projects deemed to have an “unacceptable impact” on the environment poses a significant threat to the sector if left unchanged. “If you apply it the way it’s written in the legislation now, you’d be stopping projects in the resources sector all over the country,” he warned.
Opposition leaders are also voicing concerns. Nationals leader David Littleproud criticized Minister Watt for rushing the complex legislation. “For what reason? For a political win before Christmas,” he declared, echoing sentiments that the bill’s rapid progression may lack thorough scrutiny.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accused the government of offering inconsistent concessions to gain political favor. “There’s the minister with two sets of amendments—one for the coalition and one for the Greens,” Ley remarked. “That is a political fix, not a proper legal approach.”
Despite the pushback, Minister Watt remains optimistic. He has met two of the three demands from the Greens, including proposals to reintegrate native forestry under environmental regulations and to exclude coal and gas projects from the “national interest power” that permits expedited approvals.
On the coalition’s side, concessions include limiting stop-work orders and potential adjustments to fines for violations, signaling a willingness to negotiate further. In anticipation of possible late-night amendments, lower house MPs may be required to stay in Canberra for an extra day to finalize discussions.
The stakes are high, as unresolved issues could jeopardize not only mining projects but also broader sectors like property and agriculture. As negotiations continue, all eyes are on the Senate, with the clock ticking down to the holiday recess.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as officials work to secure a deal that will determine the future of environmental regulations in Australia.
