Matt Kean, the former New South Wales Liberal treasurer and current chair of the Climate Change Authority, has criticised the federal Coalition for 'playing politics rather than acting in the national interest' over proposed nature laws. His comments come as Labor prepares to introduce a 1,400-page bill to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Environment Minister Murray Watt is set to deliver a speech on Thursday urging parties to pass the legislation, warning it is 'now or never' for reform. The government aims to pass the bill before Christmas, with a 25-day Senate inquiry scheduled to report back before parliament rises on 27 November.
Neither the Coalition nor the Greens support the bill in its current form. The opposition seeks changes including adjustments to a new 'unacceptable impact' test and removal of a requirement for big-polluting projects to disclose projected greenhouse gas emissions. The Business Council of Australia shares concerns but is lobbying shadow minister Sussan Ley to reach a deal with Labor.
Kean appealed to the Coalition to soften its resistance, noting the recommendations stem from a report commissioned by the Liberal Party. 'Given the business community is crying out for certainty... it’s disappointing to see the conservatives playing politics,' he said.
Meanwhile, Labor MP Ed Husic has raised alarms about a proposed 'national interest' power that would allow the minister to approve projects breaching nature laws. Pro-environment Labor MPs warn against watering down the bill, while the Greens insist it is too pro-business and lacks measures on climate impact and native forest protection.
