Australia’s Labor party has struck a deal with the Greens to pass the largest reforms to Australia’s environmental laws in 26 years, says a report by SBS News.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at a press conference on Thursday morning that the government’s law reforms would pass parliament later in the day.
It comes more than five years after Professor Graeme Samuel delivered his landmark review of Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 2020.
“This is a landmark day for the environment in this country,” Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
The reforms include new environmental standards to guide project decisions based on environmental impacts and changing the thresholds for accepting or rejecting high-polluting projects.
A national Environment Protection Agency (EPA) will be set up, and there will be higher penalties for serious breaches of environmental law.
The environment minister will retain approval powers over the EPA.
Stricter rules will be imposed on land clearing and native forest logging, and companies will need to disclose the greenhouse gas emissions expected from projects when they submit them for approval.
Coal and gas projects will not be eligible for “fast-tracking” and will also require federal approval for their water use.
Albanese said the government would also establish a $300 million forestry growth fund to support jobs in the industry.
