Premier slams ‘disastrous’ federal environment deal jeopardising Queensland's mining industry
Queensland faces being held to the “mercy of a radical Greens movement” under new federal environmental laws that exclude mining from streamlined approvals.
Premier David Crisafulli has branded federal Labor’s environment law deal with the Greens “disastrous with a capital D” for Queensland, jeopardising the state’s mining industry and infrastructure rollout.
The federal government struck an 11th-hour deal on the last day of Parliament to reform the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act and speed up approvals for housing, renewable energy and critical mineral projects.
To secure Greens support, Labor agreed to prevent coal and gas projects being fast-tracked, and phase out the exemptions for native forest logging and high-risk land clearing.
Mr Crisafulli said on Thursday: “To think that we could be held to the mercy of a radical Greens movement in Canberra when we’re trying to build roads, deliver infrastructure, secure the future of the mining industry.
“That sends a shiver down my spine, and I just can’t believe we’ve reached the point where that could be the case.”
The significant package, which passed the Senate on Thursday night and will pass the House of Representatives on Friday morning, will also establish a new environmental protection agency – a promise Labor took to the last two elections.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was a win for the environment and a win for the country, and Environment Minister Murray Watt said the reforms would have a lasting legacy.
The federal Coalition decried it as a dark day for the mining industry, saying the laws undermined investment and would send Australian jobs offshore.
A day after new figures showed energy inflation grew to 37.1 per cent over the past year,
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said “This is going to put energy prices up and provide further pressure on electricity bills to struggling households and families”.
As the government weighs up its response to an East Coast gas market review, Queensland senator Susan McDonald said they undermined gas supply.
“And extraordinarily, just after the government was trumpeting its agreement with the US government on critical minerals, there is parts of this legislation that will undermine even Australia’s ability to deliver on that,” she said.
The Minerals Council of Australia said the deal would increase red tape for the mining industry and was an inferior and disappointing outcome.
Australian Energy Producers said the government had chosen more red tape and uncertainty instead of enabling new gas supply.
CEO Samantha McCulloch said: “Carving gas out of streamlined reforms is simply not in the national interest.
“The deal will entrench slow approvals which will drive up energy costs, deter investment and further delay the new gas supply Australia urgently needs.”
But the Queensland Conservation Council said the passage of the reforms marked a lifeline for the 1043 threatened species that called Queensland home.
Campaigner Natalie Frost said: “Queensland is a global deforestation hotspot, with more proposed coalmines than any other jurisdiction in the world.
“For too long we have witnessed record high deforestation rates that have gone unchecked under broken nature laws.”
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Originally published as Premier slams ‘disastrous’ federal environment deal jeopardising Queensland's mining industry
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