Environmental protections act needs ‘key reforms’, Garth Hamilton says

The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act has emerged as an issue in the lead up to the Groom by-election. Here’s what two candidates had to say on the issue.

Groom LNP candidate Garth Hamilton said his party was “committed to strong environmental protection”, but there needed to be “key reforms” to laws to “both protect (the) environment and (the) economy”.

The comments came in response to the Toowoomba for Climate Action group’s candidate debate on Wednesday night.

Mr Hamilton did not attend the debate, but provided his responses to questions asked at the event in writing.

In October, The Chronicle reported Mr Hamilton had written in his candidate booklet ahead of the LNP preselection contest that one of his top priorities would be “pulling apart the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to free up major infrastructure project approvals”.

Groom LNP preselection winning candidate Garth Hamilton (left) talks to Senator Matt Canavan. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The EPBC Act was introduced in 1999 to provide a national scheme of environment and heritage protection and biodiversity conservation.

Mr Hamilton’s statement formed the basis of a question at the climate change event, with organisers asking all candidates what their position on the EPBC Act was.

“The LNP Government is committed to strong environmental protection, but it is time to ensure the act is serving its intent to both protect our environment and our economy,” Mr Hamilton said in response to the question.

“An independent reviewer, Professor Graeme Samuel, has reviewed the act and released his Interim Report.”

Mr Hamilton said the interim report found the EPBC Act was not working for the environment or for business.

“(Prof Samuel) has undertaken further consultation, inviting Australians to have their say,” he said.

“We have an opportunity now to deliver key reforms to support clear and consistent protection for our environment while also unlocking job-creating projects to strengthen our economy.

“Generally, I’m not seeking more project approvals, so much as more certainty over the process.

“When it comes to specific developments, community consultation and environmental protections are very important and developments should be judged on their merits.”

Chris Meibusch launches his campaign for the seat of Groom.

Groom Labor candidate Chris Meibusch, who ran the Save Mount Lofty campaign to stop the development of a Defence Housing Australia estate at the old rifle range, said the EPBC Act, in its current form, was a legacy of former Prime Minister John Howard.

“This is not some ideological Labor-Greens set of requirements,” Mr Meibusch said.

“It was brought in by John Howard.

“He recognised the importance of protecting our environment.”

Mr Meibusch said the act was one of the reasons why his Save Mount Lofty group had success in stopping the DHA development.

“It was the only thing stopping DHA from bulldozing critical koala habitat in Mount Lofty,” he said.