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Murray Watt

This Month

“If we save the sea, we save our world”: David Attenborough in Ocean with David Attenborough.

Attenborough joins 10,000 people to urge action on High Seas Treaty

Australia is set to back a major new ocean protection treaty to limit industrial-scale fishing and protect international waters from destruction.

Green groups in Tasmania have opposed several clean energy projects.

Renewables rollout on a collision course with green groups: study

Australia’s energy transition will require around 110,000 square kilometres of land – that’s roughly 1.7 times the size of Tasmania.

May

The Albanese government says new gas supply is crucial to transition to net zero emissions.

Why Labor could go all in on gas

The government’s sign-off on Woodside’s North West Shelf project is a signal it’s ready to take a more supportive approach to gas’ role in the energy transition.

Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project in WA.

Watt makes the only choice on Woodside

A new environment minister has finally granted a decades-long extension for operation of the vital North West Shelf project. But the fights over gas won’t stop.

The North West Shelf LNG plant near Karratha is the country’s biggest LNG exporter.

Report findings pave the way for North West Shelf go ahead

A scientific report at the centre of the government’s move to delay a decision on the future of Woodside’s project has allayed environmental and cultural concerns.

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Andrew Forrest is approaching a big moment for his empire.

Can Labor help the Pilbara go green?

Labor now has a rare, politically unencumbered opportunity to secure the nation’s energy supply, industrial competitiveness and climate transition.

Janet Holmes a Court (right), who was  outside Parliament House on behalf of the Friends of Australian Rock Art, and Friends of Australian Rock Art co-convener Judith Hugo.

Watt urged not to ‘kill projects with bureaucracy’, as doyen emerges

The Holmes a Court family matriarch has lent her voice to the chorus of environmentalists lobbying against a 40-year extension of Woodside’s major North West Shelf gas plant.

New Environment Minister Murray Watt.

Watt won’t rule out giving EPA veto over resources projects

A new federal environment protection agency could be handed the power to approve major resources projects.

WA Premier Roger Cook.

WA to push Labor on mining ties

Anthony Albanese’s massive election win won’t change WA Premier Roger Cook’s demanding approach to advocating for the west coast mining sector.

Murray Watt says fixing the broken environment laws are his priority.

‘Show you’re centrist’: Watt demands Ley help fix environment laws

The new environment minister says business and green groups will need to compromise to fix the nation’s broken environment regulations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing the new cabinet in Canberra on Monday.

Albanese resets the board for a high-stakes political game

The prime minister says he is confident he has the right people in the right ministerial roles as he shrugs off any criticism about his new team.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 12 May 2025. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Plibersek sidelined, PM puts fixers in environment and NDIS

Mark Butler has been given the task of bringing the NDIS under control, while Tanya Plibersek has been pushed out of environment and replaced by Murray Watt.

April

The CFMEU has gone to the High Court to challenge laws placing it into administration.

Revealed: The mounting cost of cleaning up the CFMEU

The administrator of the CFMEU has spent more than $4 million in seven months – mostly on salaries – but the figures have not been reported to parliament as required.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

Dutton plans two-step defence boost as Russia concerns linger

The Coalition is set to unveil its promised defence spending boost this week before Anzac Day, amid questions over Moscow’s bid for an airbase in Indonesia.

Lowe hopes for a reform-minded, rather than career-obsessed, political leader who doesn’t need the job but who really want to leave the place in better shape.

Politicians are the problem behind the cost-of-living squeeze

Weak business investment and real wage growth is a design feature of the Albanese Labor’s care economy model that the Dutton Coalition is failing to challenge.

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Labor wants the Fair Work Commission to jack up the minimum wage by more than inflation. The Coalition is too desperate to woo battler voters to call out the illusion.

Bipartisan illusion on pay rises

It’s the magic pudding pitch. Even Peter Dutton is joining Labor in pretending that real wages can increase while productivity is shrinking.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar.

Employers call for 2.5pc minimum wage increase

A major employer group argues any above-inflation increase in the minimum wage must be linked to productivity, clashing with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

A Trump-proof Australia needs productive industrial relations

The lack of a real election contest over greater workplace flexibility will condemn Australia to lower productivity and leave the nation less protected.

Labor targets Dutton’s WFH wind-back as ‘straight from DOGE playbook’

Labor will launch an attack on the Coalition’s return-to-the-office plans and public sector cuts by comparing them to Elon Musk’s cost-cutting outfit under Trump.

March

Prime minister Anthony Albanese.

Details of Albanese’s pre-cyclone fundraiser revealed

The prime minister dined with donors as millions on the eastern seaboard braced for Cyclone Alfred.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/murray-patrick-watt-6fnh