Concession to Greens on offshore gas as minister cracks down on ‘spurious’ environmental claims

The government will insert an environmental safeguard in a bill to streamline consultation on new gas developments following a Greens’ backlash.

Woodside’s North Rankin Complex is one of the largest offshore gas processing facilities in Australia. Picture: Supplied

The Albanese government will insert an environmental safeguard in proposed new laws aimed at streamlining consultation requirements faced by gas developers, following a Greens backlash over the change.

Resources Minister Madeleine King on Monday will move an amendment in parliament to laws aimed at averting spurious legal challenges to offshore gas projects, making clear that environmental standards won’t be sidelined.

The government is using its new offshore safety bill to clarify legal ambiguity over project consultation requirements after the publicly funded Environmental Defenders Office was found to have confected evidence against ­Santos’s $5.3bn Barossa LNG project.

The Greens claimed the government was trying to fast-track new gas projects under the new bill without sufficient environmental approvals, in violation of its election platform.

Resources Minister Madeline King. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

The amended bill will clarify that future regulatory changes to improve consultation must be consistent with national environmental laws.

A 12-month sunset provision will also be included, ensuring the new Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act being designed by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will apply to future project approvals.

“There will be no change to rigorous environmental assessments,” Mr King said. “No environmental standards will be watered down … there will be no fast track for offshore projects.”

The government believes the compromise won’t jeopardise Coalition or industry support for the bill. The move comes as power generators warn they may be forced to burn diesel to keep the energy grid running, amid forecasts of a catastrophic ­gas supply shortfall from 2025 unless new sources are developed.

Major unions, in an unlikely alliance with resources giants, have been pressing the federal government to reduce the ability of “clueless activists” to frustrate and delay multibillion-dollar offshore gas projects. The right-wing Australian Workers Union and left-wing maritime union have accused critics of “demonising gas as the new coal”.