Government to introduce new environment laws to federal parliament

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The federal Environment Minister has defended controversial environmental protection laws, set to be introduced to parliament this week. The legislation aims to speed up project approvals and strengthen environment laws and will require support from either the Coalition or the Greens.

Transcript

00:00The federal government is determined to overhaul Australia's environmental laws, which have

00:07long been described as broken.

00:09So the government says the changes will deliver stronger protections for the environment,

00:14but also quicker approvals for all kinds of projects like housing and mining.

00:19But the reforms have attracted criticism from the Greens, who say that the proposed laws

00:25don't go far enough to protect the environment, particularly after Environment Minister Murray

00:30Watt ruled out a so-called climate trigger, which would have blocked high-carbon-emitting

00:38projects.

00:39But on the other side, the reforms have also been criticised by the Coalition, who say

00:44that they don't give industry confidence to invest here in Australia.

00:49But Senator Murray Watt says the government has struck the right balance.

00:53Take a listen.

00:55We need to have a clear definition of the types of projects that would simply be unacceptable

00:59because of the impact that they would have on the environment.

01:02Of course, that would be beneficial for the environment in stopping unacceptable developments

01:07going ahead.

01:08But it's also really important for business to have that kind of clear definition so that

01:12they get a fast no on a project and know that a particular project isn't going to get approved.

01:17If the Coalition rejects the legislation, it could be a key test of how the Greens respond

01:23in this term of Parliament.

01:25Senator Watt says he is open to striking a deal, but it is shaping up to be very challenging.

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