Nature Positive laws: Greens and crossbenchers offer alternative path and compromise on climate trigger demand

The Greens and independents are offering an alternative route for Labor to pass laws to create its Environmental Protection Agency, which includes a concession on demands for a “climate trigger”.

Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young and independents David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on Monday, proposing a deal that would allow Labor to bypass Peter Dutton’s Coalition.

Under the offer, the crossbenchers will demand “climate considerations” be factored into the environmental assessment of projects.

But in a shift from the Greens, the minor party will not insist on the specific “climate trigger” model it previously pushed for, which would have banned projects estimated to produce more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

While framing the offer as a compromise, Senator Hanson-Young made clear the addition of “climate considerations” into Federal nature laws was still designed to stop heavy-polluting projects.

“There’s a loophole that allows climate-damaging projects to get the green tick,” Senator Hanson-Young.

“We’ve got to close that.

“How that is done — we’re up for the negotiation.”

The crossbenchers will also demand the Federal Government close a loophole around native forest logging and include more First Nations expertise in environmental governance and decision-making.

Senator Pocock described the offer as a “pragmatic, reasonable approach”.

Cutting a deal with the Greens and crossbench — even without a firm “climate trigger” — would still expose Labor to a major backlash from miners, particularly in WA.

But Senator Hanson-Young warned Labor would face consequences if it decided to work with the Coalition.

The Nightly last week revealed that Labor was prepared to gut its proposed Federal EPA, including stripping it of decision-making powers, in a bid to win the Opposition’s support.

The Coalition is yet to finalise its position but it is expected to oppose the Bill.

“The Government promised the Australian people that they would fix Australia’s broken environment laws. If they don’t do that, it’s a betrayal,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

A Senate inquiry report on legislation to establish the new Federal EPA will be tabled on Monday afternoon.