New Environment Minister Murray Watt vows to be transparent with ‘controversial decisions’

Australia’s new Environment Minister Murray Watt has revealed what his priorities are as he vows to be transparent — even with “controversial decisions” that not everyone will like.

Exclusive: Communities will be “heard” on mining, energy and farming projects with huge economic and job opportunities for their region says new Environment Minister Murray Watt as he vows to be transparent about controversial decisions.

Mr Watt, who was appointed to the portfolio by Anthony Albanese this week, has promised a no surprises approach to environmental assessments and revealed he is hopeful of securing both Coalition and Greens support for critical reforms to streamline Australia’s green tape.

“The objectives here are to deliver legislation that does a better job of protecting the environment and delivers more certainty for industry,” he said of the so-called “nature positive” laws that stalled in parliament last year.

In an exclusive interview, Mr Watt said ensuring widespread community consultation on projects undergoing environmental assessments would be the hallmark of his tenure in the role.

“I think the more transparent we can be, the more open to ideas and suggestions we can be, it maximises the chances of building the community’s confidence in the decisions that you make,” he said.

Having only had initial briefings in his first few days in the role, Mr Watt was reluctant to weigh in on the controversial projects that plagued his predecessor Tanya Plibersek like the Blayney gold mine in regional NSW, salmon farming in Tasmania’s remote Macquarie Harbour and the extension of the North West Shelf gas plant in Western Australia.

Environment Minister Murray Watt in the Lamington National Park in Queensland. Picture: Supplied

But he promised all his decisions would be made “in accordance with the law,” while insisting he was “not naive” about the fact he could never please everyone.

“I recognise that I’m going to make some very controversial decisions one way or another in this job,” he said.

“Not everyone is going to be happy with those decisions, but I think if people feel heard, then that improves your chances of people accepting that a decision has been made properly.”

Delivering reforms that streamline Australia’s environmental regulations is Mr Watt’s priority this term after Labor’s original legislation, the “nature positive laws” were shelved by Anthony Albanese at the end of last year.

Mark Bailey gets a selfie with Murray Watt and Ali France. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

The legislation was based on recommendations in an independent review of the Howard-era Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act by Graeme Samuel, which found current laws are not working for the environment or for business.

But last year the Prime Minister intervened over the top of Ms Plibersek, who had been attempting to revive negotiations with the Greens after talks with the Coalition broke down, in a move designed to appease the Labor West Australian government ahead of its state election.

Mr Watt said this term he would “build on the work that’s been done to date” by Ms Plibersek, echoing Mr Albanese’s comments Labor would not “simply reintroduce the same bill” that had stalled last year.

Murray Watt at the swearing-in ceremony at Government House, Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

He is hopeful of getting both the Greens and Coalition on board this time, given Liberal leader Sussan Ley was the environment minister who commissioned the Samuel Review, and Greens leader Larissa Waters has indicated she will be “different” to her predecessor Adam Bandt.

“Business groups want the Coalition to back reform, environmental groups want the Greens to back reform,” Mr Watt said.

He said Australians had sent a clear message at the election they did not want the “extremes of politics – left and right – to be blocking progress”.

“I hope that both the Coalition and the Greens have heard that message,” he said.

Originally published as New Environment Minister Murray Watt vows to be transparent with ‘controversial decisions’