EPBC: Albanese says Greens deal a ‘win-win’ despite concerns it will push energy prices higher

Industry groups are hoping Anthony Albanese’s new environment laws, locked in with the help of the Greens, will help fast-track approvals with the promise of States getting the power to sign off on projects under Federal laws.

The Government’s agreement with the Greens includes changes that will see logging come under the new rules and no fast-track assessments for coal and gas projects.

The deal also included some improvements in-line with business requests to remove ambiguity.

The Prime Minister announced the deal on Thursday morning — the final sitting day for the year — saying the “sensible, responsible and balanced laws” were good for business and good for the environment.

“This is a landmark day for the environment in this country. It is also a good day for business in this country, by providing more certainty, reducing delays, and making sure that we get better outcomes and improve productivity,” he said.

“The country’s been held back by environmental laws that were not fit for purpose.”

The laws will establish a National Environment Protection Agency, set up new national environmental standards, and allow the Commonwealth to strike deals for the States to assess and possibly approve projects under Federal laws.

They were expected to pass the Senate late on Thursday before being given a tick in the lower house on Friday morning.

In negotiations that Labor and the Greens characterised as tough but constructive, the Greens agreed to back further changes in line with industry group requests to tighten the definitions of “unacceptable impacts” and “net gain” and to put a 14-day limit on the new stop-work orders the NEPA will be able to issue.

The Government has agreed to Greens’ requests to phase out exemptions for native forestry, meaning logging will have to abide by the new environmental standards, and has also agreed that coal and gas projects can’t receive fast-tracked assessments.

Gas projects would still be eligible for the existing “preliminary documentation” pathway, which is being brought over to the new system, and able to be use the single-track assessment in accredited States under the new arrangements.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accused Labor and the Greens of doing a “dirty deal” and working against Australia’s national interest because gas wouldn’t be fast-tracked.

“What is very clear from the reaction so far to the dirty deal done by the Labor Party with the Greens … is that this is going to put energy prices up and provide further pressure on electricity bills to struggling households and families,” she said.

Australian Energy Producers chief executive Samantha McCulloch said the Greens deal was a squandered opportunity to address the significant costs and delays in delivering gas to Australian consumers.

“Carving gas out of streamlined reforms is simply not in the national interest,” she said.

“The deal will entrench slow approvals which will drive up energy costs, deter investment and further delay the new gas supply Australia urgently needs.”

Industry groups said they were now focused on ensuring the bilateral agreements with the States were struck as quickly as possible to realise the promised productivity gains.

“This amended reform package is not the end of the process,” Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said.

“A single-touch assessment process is the ultimate goal and this legislation cannot deliver that on its own. Achieving that must be our ambition.”

The Government would not put a timeline on striking the bilateral agreements with State governments, but wants to at least get WA and NSW operating under the new rules by July.

Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam, who was directly involved in the Coalition’s negotiations with Labor on the new laws, labelled the Greens deal a “dirty, dodgy deal” during a spray in the Senate on Thursday morning.

He said the Coalition was in “good faith” negotiations “even as late as 10pm” on Wednesday.

“We got our message that they weren’t going to deal with us through the press conference this morning. I don’t think that’s good faith discussion,” he said.

Greens leader Larissa Waters said while her party hadn’t got everything it sought, the final package did strengthen environmental protections.

“The Greens are determined to get sh*t done,” she said.

“We are stopping big fossil fuel corporations from trashing the environment faster and easier than they already can – that is a significant win for the climate. But the fight is not over.”