Murray Watt thinks he will succeed where Tanya Plibersek failed
The Albanese government pledged in the 2022 election to strengthen environment laws, but reforms pursued by former environment minister Tanya Plibersek collapsed when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intervened to torpedo negotiations with the Greens after pushback from Western Australian miners.
After his first roundtable meeting with industry groups on Thursday, Watt said there was 'broad agreement' from parties including miners, farmers, renewable energy developers, conservation groups and First Nations communities.
'Our current environmental laws aren't working and desperately need reform. Everyone accepted that this is an urgent task for the country and the parliament,' Watt said.
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The 2020 Samuel review of Australia's environment laws found they were broken. Since colonisation, about 100 of Australia's unique flora and fauna species have been wiped out. The rate of loss, which is as bad as anywhere else on Earth, shows no sign of slowing, with ongoing habitat degradation and more than 2000 species currently listed as threatened with extinction.
Before he can land reforms, Watt must bridge a divide between the mining industry and conservation lobby or face the spectre of a political campaign from whichever side is disappointed.
Just as Albanese was scuttling Plibersek's reform push, the mining lobby warned Plibersek's reforms were 'bad for WA, bad for industry'. After Albanese's intervention, the Australian Conservation Foundation said the government had ' left nature in limbo after surrendering to the demands of mining and big business'.
However, in a sign of his confidence, Watt said he could bring a reform bill to parliament within 18 months.
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