Labor ‘resurrects’ EPA, environment reform as Coalition warns of ‘disaster’

Labor is promising a fresh attempt to shake up national environment laws, including a powerful federal Environment Protection Agency, cementing it as an election issue.

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Labor has vowed to make a fresh attempt to shake up national environment laws, including a new federal Environment Protection Agency, but is promising more consultation with states and stakeholders.

Neither the Prime Minister nor the Environment Minister would comment on questions from The Australian about whether a pledge to revisit stalled environmental reforms was given to caucus to win backing for controversial salmon approvals legislation.

However, in a statement from a government spokeswoman, they confirmed a shake-up, including a powerful EPA, was back on Labor’s agenda, cementing it as an election issue.

“There will be further consultation with states, environment groups and business before reforms are put to the parliament,” the spokeswoman said.

“Everyone, including the Coalition, agrees that Australia’s national environment laws don’t work for business and don’t work for the environment.

“We’ll reform national environment laws, including establishing Australia’s first national environment protection agency.”

The government was last year forced to shelve the next tranche of its Nature Positive Plan reforms after negotiations broke down with both the Greens and the Coalition in the Senate.

These included an EPA with “strong new powers and penalties to better protect nature”, as well as faster approvals and another new body, Environment Information Australia, to give business easier access to the latest environmental data.

It is understood that, aside from the EPA, Labor is yet to commit to the other elements of the original reforms, and it appears keen to distance any revised package from the Nature Positive Plan.

Mr Albanese and Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart visit Tassal salmon pens on Macquarie Harbour, western Tasmania, in December 2024. Picture: NewsWire

Coalition environment spokesman Jonno Duniam said the reform revisit was the price paid by the PM to head-off a left faction revolt over this week’s legislation to end a review of salmon approvals in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.

Senator Duniam said a “rekindled, flawed” federal EPA “could be disastrous” for industries, including salmon, and for his home state of Tasmania.

He suggested the recommitment to an EPA was a prelude to a Labor-Green power sharing government, which he said could also revisit the salmon law, which passed the Senate late Wednesday night with Coalition support.

“Nothing is certain with the Labor Party if they are re-elected,” he said. “These laws could easily be changed or unpicked with their natural governing partner, the Greens, in a minority Albanese-Bandt Government.”

Senate estimates hearings on Thursday heard the government spent $45 million on the EPA before it was dumped due to the parliamentary impasse.

“The government have spent $45 million on something that doesn’t exist and the Prime Minister promised wouldn’t exist,” Senator Duniam said.

However, departmental officials and Labor Senator Tim Ayres, representing Ms Plibersek, suggested this work would be of use in the development of the revised EPA.

“We’ll bring a new package to the parliament if we get elected… and it will reflect the objectives that sensible actors across the spectrum – industry and the environment movement – agree needs to be undertaken,” Senator Ayres said.

He suggested the new-look EPA proposal would be unveiled after the election. “There’s an election, then there’ll be further work with industries and the states and (we) certainly don’t envisage what the final shape of that legislative reform package will be,” he said.

“We’ll bring good legislation to the parliament … and we’ll work across the parliament to try to secure support for that.”

A Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour.

With the Coalition seemingly opposed to an EPA, Labor would likely require the support of the Greens, teal independents and other crossbenchers, depending on the shape of the next parliament.

The Greens have sought to use past negotiations to win policy outcomes on climate and native forest logging, while teals have also flagged a commitment to achieving progress on both issues.

Zali Steggall, MP for Warringah, NSW, said she would push for an EPA “with teeth”. “The current system is not delivering for anyone - it’s not delivering outcomes for nature and not delivering outcomes for business,” she told The Australian.

After 14 months of uncertainty over salmon operations in Macquarie Harbour – due to an ongoing review by Ms Plibersek’s department of 2012 approvals – the industry welcomed the legislation passed late on Wednesday.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Reconsiderations) Amendment bill retrospectively prevents such reviews if an activity has been “ongoing” for five years.

Senate estimates heard from government officials that the changes would impact less than 1 per cent of referrals under the Act.

The salmon law was attacked by the Bob Brown Foundation and other conservationists. “It is utterly shameful that the PM teamed up with Dutton to weaken Australia’s environment laws at the behest of the massive multinational salmon corporations,” said Alistair Allan, BBF marine campaigner and Greens candidate.

“The PM has condemned the Maugean skate, an animal that has been on the planet for millions of years, to extinction.”

However, Mr Albanese said the latest research showed there were the same number of skates in the harbour now as a decade ago.

Salmon Tasmania and the Australian Workers’ Union hailed the legislation as easing uncertainty for workers reliant on the harbour, in the marginal seat of Braddon, targeted by Labor as a potential gain this election.