Anthony Albanese blows up Tanya Plibersek-led deal with Greens
Labor, led by Tanya Plibersek, was in the final stages of striking an agreement with the Greens – until the Prime Minister intervened at the eleventh-hour.
NSW
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A bid to establish a new national environment watchdog will be punted into next year, after Anthony Albanese rode roughshod over Tanya Plibersek’s attempts to negotiate a deal with the Greens.
Labor, led by Environment Minister Ms Plibersek, were in the final stages of striking an agreement with the Greens over the Nature Positive laws which would have allowed them to pass.
It’s understood the Prime Minister intervened at the eleventh hour, blowing apart the potential of the laws being passed in the final week of Parliament this year, with the issue to be picked back up again next year.
Labor had dug its heels in over the Greens’ requests to hobble native forest logging, with it understood the scuppered agreement didn’t include measures to restrict the sector.
It comes after Federal Minister for forestry, Julie Collins, spoke at an industry event in Canberra on Tuesday night, where she reiterated Labor’s support for the industry.
Any move to cripple the sector would hurt Labor particularly in seats in Tasmania, where logging is a major employer.
The Prime Minister’s office declined to comment.
The intervention by Mr Albanese is a flair-up between he and Ms Plibersek, two heavyweights in Labor’s left faction.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young claimed the Prime Minister “has been bullied by the mining and logging lobby again”.
“The Greens put a deal on the table and the government has walked away,” Ms Hanson-Young said.
The Nature Positive package includes the establishment of a new watchdog, titled Environment Protection Australia, similar to state-level organisations like NSW’s Environment Protection Authority.
Walgett broad acre farmer Tim White welcomed the prospect of the extra greentape being delayed.
“I’m glad they’re kicking it down the road – there’s nothing good to come from the Labor and Greens getting together, it’s not a good thing from a farmers’ perspective,” he said.
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