Nature Positive: Business demands PM rule out Greens deal after Tanya Plibersek confirms talks

Big business is demanding the Federal Government put WA jobs first and rule out a Nature Positive deal with the Greens after Tanya Plibersek confirmed she was in talks with the left-wing party.

The Business Council of Australia (BCA) — which represents BHP and Rio Tinto —is warning a “reckless” deal with the Greens and independents that included some form of “climate trigger” would threaten critical minerals and green energy projects in WA.

The intervention comes ahead of a scheduled Senate debate on the controversial laws to establish a new Environmental Protection Agency.

The legislation — a key part of the wider Nature Positive Plan — is not expected to reach a vote with Ms Plibersek still locked in negotiations with all sides.

Appearing at Minerals Week on Wednesday, Ms Plibersek said she was determined to deliver Labor’s promised federal nature cop and remains open to a deal with either the Greens and crossbench or the Coalition to get it done.

The industry is deeply concerned Labor could negotiate a deal with the Greens that includes a mechanism to block projects based on their estimated pollution, referred to as a “climate trigger”.

Minerals Council of Australia boss Tania Constable was on Tuesday urging miners to lobby the Coalition to support the legislation to head off that prospect.

The Greens are no longer insisting on a specific “climate trigger” model with set pollution thresholds, instead pushing a vaguer request for “climate considerations” to be factored into the environmental assessment of projects.

During a Q&A on Wednesday, Ms Constable asked Ms Plibersek if she could rule out agreeing to a “climate trigger” or “climate considerations”.

Ms Plibersek maintained the Government’s position that pollution from projects was already managed under the safeguard mechanism.

However, she admitted talks on “climate considerations” were underway.

“We are in intense negotiations right across the Parliament,” she said.

“I’m not going to pretend to you that there’s no discussion of climate considerations as part of this negotiation.

“I can’t pretend that.”

Appearing at a separate Minerals Week event, Mr Dutton was convinced Mr Albanese would not risk the political blowout that any deal with the Greens would whip up in WA.

“I don’t believe that the Greens and the Government can arrive at a position that wouldn’t destroy the Labor Party in Western Australia,” he said.

“I don’t think the Prime Minister is going to take that risk in my political judgement.”

Mr Dutton indicated he was still taking feedback from industry, suggesting the Coalition is yet to settle on a final position despite the widespread expectation it will oppose the laws.

He was sceptical of the need for any changes, arguing miners already adhered to high environmental standards .

“If there is another layer that’s required, well we need convincing, in my mind, of why that’s necessary.”

BCA chief executive Bran Black said if Labor couldn’t convince the Coalition to get on board then the legislation should be pulled.

“The Federal Government must prioritise WA jobs and WA economic growth and rule out a Nature Positive deal with the Greens,” Mr Black told The West.

“A Greens deal on the Nature Positive legislation would be reckless and could put many critical minerals and renewal energy projects in Western Australia at risk.”

The Greens and independents David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe are prepared to pass Labor’s EPA – if it agrees to the “climate considerations”, a crackdown on native forest logging and more involvement of First Nations experts in decision-making.

The crossbench offer has the backing of key environment groups, including the Australian Conservation Foundation.

In a message to Labor on Wednesday night, Greens environment spokesman Sarah Hanson-Young said: “The Greens are prepared to work with the Government for a nature positive outcome. The ball is in the Prime Minister’s court.”