Nature Positive laws and legislation to end live sheep export introduced to Parliament after Labor approval

Laws to end live sheep exports and establish a Federal environment protection watchdog are set to be introduced to Federal Parliament after being green-lit by Labor MPs.

The two separate Bills could be brought forward as soon as this week after Labor caucus endorsed them at a meeting on Tuesday morning.

The legislation to shut down the live sheep export trade will include the May 1, 2028 end date for the industry, which Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announced earlier this month.

The decision to push ahead with the ban will infuriate farmers and inflame tensions with the WA Government, which has criticised the announcement and the size of the $107 million transition package promised for the sector.

In a separate move that will anger miners, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will introduce legislation to establish a new Commonwealth environment protection agency.

Ms Plibersek last month committed to pursuing a Federal EPA after announcing the controversial Nature Positive reforms would be split up, with the most controversial elements — new national environmental standards — put on the backburner.

The Federal EPA — to be known as Environment Protection Australia — will decide on most applications, but the minister will retain the power to “call in” projects for assessment.

Bills endorsed at Labor’s standard Tuesday caucus meeting are typically introduced to Federal Parliament on Wednesday or Thursday of the same week.

More to come.