COALITION SURRENDERS AUSTRALIA'S ENVIRONMENT TO ITS MATES IN THE STATES.

Media Release.

Date:  10 December 2013

Last night Labor voted against the Abbott Government’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation legislation on major projects approvals, which surrenders Australia’s environment to the likes of Campbell Newman under proposed bilateral agreements.

“Labor continues to support streamlining environmental assessment processes for major projects, but final approval on matters of national environmental significance should remain with the national government,” said Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Mark Butler. 

“We do not support handing over the protection of the Great Barrier Reef to Campbell Newman, whose shameful environmental track record includes dismantling wild rivers protection legislation and promising to reduce environmental protection for major projects.”

Labor began negotiations with the states to establish agreements to reduce regulatory double-up in 2012. Throughout these negotiations it became clear some states could not be trusted with Australia’s unique environment.

“Tony Abbott has consistently shown his flippant attitude to environmental policy by proposing to relax laws designed to protect our country’s greatest assets, dismantling all effective climate action measures and silencing any expert advice,” Mr Butler said.

“The Coalition Government cannot be trusted to look out for precious environmental assets like the Great Barrier Reef. This is not the government they said they would be.”