The Greens offer an eleventh-hour deal to save stalled environmental laws

The federal government’s troubled environmental reforms have been given an eleventh-hour reprieve as the Greens delay demands for a “climate trigger” to guarantee Senate passage this year.

Amid a growing sense of urgency among the major parties as this parliament heads into what could be the final weeks before the election, the Greens have taken action to end a nearly two-year deadlock on reforms to streamline quarter-century-old environmental approvals. and surveillance laws.

Originally supported by both business groups and environmentalists, the reforms have become mired in a debate over whether future land use approvals should require regulators to consider climate impacts.

Labor has firmly rejected that idea, saying there are already policies in place elsewhere to cut emissions, including in the safeguard mechanism for heavy industry, raw materials and manufacturing.

In exchange for delaying demands that a future federal Environmental Protection Agency have the power to block resources and other projects if they emit too much carbon, the Greens say the changes should instead include “strong action” to protect indigenous protect forests and critical habitats from logging. and deforestation.

A last-ditch solution could appease business and conservation groups

The Greens’ offer opens the door to a last-ditch solution that could address concerns of the Business Council of Australia and mining groups, as well as conservation advocates.

It comes after prospects for a deal looked unlikely after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised miners in WA he would not approve any reform of the quarter-century-old Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act if it included the so-called climate trigger.

The reforms, which include the creation of an independent federal environmental protection agency to monitor and approve projects, were a promise made at the last election by Labor, which adopted recommendations from Graeme Samuel, who carried out a 2019 review commissioned by the former coalition government.

The inclusion of explicit protection for primary forests, under the Greens’ latest offer, is likely to receive support from some key independent parties, led by ACT Senator David Pocock.

The revised offer would also be less likely to impact the resource-rich states of WA and Queensland, where miners would benefit from more streamlined approvals, particularly for projects linked to the renewables boom.

In contrast, the ban on native forestry could create new headaches for Labor in NSW and Tasmania, the key remaining states where the industry continues to operate extensively.

The Greens’ offer does not mean that the party has jettisoned the need for a climate trigger for environmental reform.

However, in a push for a pragmatic solution in light of Mr Albanese’s refusal to include such a measure, the Greens say they are now making an offer of “goodwill” to take action against native forests and endangered species. species.

The key will be to remove the Regional Forest Agreement exemptions that currently apply under the EPBC Act.

“The time is right for logging of native forests. It is time to start protecting nature,” said Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for the environment.

“Over the next two weeks, the Prime Minister and the Environment Minister can work with the Greens to save Australia’s great forests from the chainsaws and bulldozers before it’s too late.

“The Prime Minister has refused to negotiate a climate push this side of the election, pandering to Gina Rinehart and WA’s fossil fuel polluters.”

Negotiations between Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, the Greens and the Coalition have been sporadic in recent months, with insiders saying prospects for a deal appeared bleak.

Although the Greens’ offer opens a path, time may be running out.

The government has already said it has a series of legislation that it will prioritize over the next two weeks. This includes salary increases for child care workers, debt relief for college students, reforms in elder care, and fraud prevention laws.

The Greens are fighting the elections

Senator Hanson-Young said the Greens are “willing to give in” in the interests of the environment.

“For this reason, we have offered the Albanian government the adoption of their Nature Positive bills in return for real action to save our native forests and critical habitats.

“Closing the loopholes in legislation that allow large-scale native forest clearing and land clearing to go unassessed will have tangible impacts on protecting critical habitat in Tasmania, NSW and northern Australia, where deforestation has spiraled out of control .

“Saving forests from logging is good for the climate, good for the animals and good for the community.

“We now have the opportunity to stop even more extinctions and protect endangered wildlife, including our precious koala, swift parrot and greater glider.”

Senator Hanson-Young said it was possible to pass the legislation in the next two weeks.

“While the government has refused to back a climate initiative, the reality facing our planet is stark: every new coal and gas mine Labor approves makes the crisis worse.

“The Greens will fight for a climate trigger at the election, and we will push the next parliament to deliver it.”