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The mood within the Coalition has soured on the government's proposed rewrite of Australia's "broken" environment laws, just days after parts of the legislation were shared with stakeholders. Part of the draft laws for the proposed overhaul, the third attempt in recent years to fix the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act), has been shared with environment and business groups. There had been optimism in talks between the government and Coalition that an agreement to finally reform the laws could be reached. But since details have begun to be shared, the mood has turned, with one Nationals MP describing the proposals as "environmental ideology". Environment Minister Murray Watt confirmed yesterday a key Greens demand for a "climate trigger" that could block coal and gas projects would not be part of the laws. The Coalition claimed it as a victory following their negotiations with the government, which has been quietly underway for months. But today, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who nearly five years ago was herself unable to successfully reform the EPBC Act, said she was not convinced by this new attempt by government. "Unless this government can give industry the confidence that it cares about accelerating those [environmental] approvals … then I fear that projects like the critical minerals project that was inked in Washington just a few days ago is not going … to bring forward the development that is expected, needed and deserved," Ms Ley said. The opposition leader maintained that the existing laws were a "basket case", but said there was "nothing" in the government's proposal to give developers or investors confidence that slow approval timeframes would be addressed. Ms Ley said there was "far more work to be done" to convince the Coalition of the reforms, which she said the party would work through in detail after they are introduced. Nationals criticise 'environmental ideology' Nationals MPs also reacted this morning with concern over the details trickling out. Shadow Trade Minister Kevin Hogan expressed his worry about the possible inclusion of forestry projects in federal environment law, while Shadow Transport Minister Bridget McKenzie raised concerns over proposed "go zones" with fast-tracked approval processes interfering with farmers' property rights. Senator McKenzie, however, said the Nationals would not accept laws that would strip farmers of the right to appeal if a project attempted to resume their land. "The last thing we want to see is a repeat of Victorian legislation where the Allan Labor government has seriously undermined private property rights," Senator McKenzie said. "It is tragic that in my home state, farmers have had the fundamental rights stripped from them sometimes to empower foreign-owned renewable companies." Mr Hogan rejected the bill as "environmental ideology". "They are making it as hard as they can for people in this country to produce stuff and to employ people, and this legislation's just going to add to it," Mr Hogan told Sky News. Watt may have to turn to Greens It leaves the future of the bill in question, with the Greens also flatly rejecting the proposed reforms. Greens environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said yesterday that the reforms were "riddled" with get-out clauses that suited industry. "The Greens have been very clear from the start — we will not rubber stamp laws that fail to protect our native forests, wildlife and climate," she said. If the Coalition rejects the legislation, it could become a key test of how the Greens will act in this term of parliament — after fierce campaigning last term by Labor accusing the minor party of acting as blockers in the senate. Environment Minister Murray Watt said compromise was needed from all groups, but that the laws could be written in a way that sped up project approvals for business while also better protecting the environment. Senator Watt has maintained he is open to a deal with either the Coalition or the Greens, and has previously suggested that the EPBC Act reforms would be introduced to parliament in a format that could be adapted to suit a deal.
