The Australian Greens have condemned the government's proposed overhaul of federal nature laws, arguing it fails to address the climate impact of fossil fuel projects and would be 'worse than the status quo'. The criticism follows private briefings on the long-awaited rewrite of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, which is set to be introduced to parliament soon.
Under the new laws, proponents of high-polluting projects would be required to disclose expected greenhouse gas emissions and outline mitigation plans, but decision-makers would not be compelled to consider climate impacts when assessing applications. Environment Minister Murray Watt said the disclosure rule, applying to projects emitting over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, would ensure transparency. However, environmental groups argue it falls short of granting ministers or the proposed Environment Protection Agency (EPA) the power to reject projects based on climate harm.
The legislation also introduces a definition of 'unacceptable impact' that would trigger automatic refusal, but industry sources have called it too broad, creating uncertainty. The Greens, whose support is crucial for passing the bill, issued a statement after a briefing, with spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young saying the bill 'weakens environmental protection' and prioritises mining interests.
Key elements remain unresolved, including the EPA's powers—a sticking point for the Coalition, which wants the watchdog limited to compliance. Shadow environment minister Angie Bell said the opposition would wait for the full draft before deciding. Meanwhile, the Biodiversity Council criticised a proposed 'restoration fund' for allowing developers to offset damage without adequate safeguards, warning it could leave nature worse off.
