Opposition wants ‘balanced outcome’ on environment protection reforms – as it happened

This blog is now closedCoalition and Greens scolded for opposing new nature laws by author of key environment reportGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe environment minister, Murray Watt, claims Sussan Ley’s reluctance to support the EPBC laws is about her “desperately trying to shore up her leadership” as the Coalition once again ties itself in knots over net zero and climate policy.Speaking to reporters in Parliament House this morning, he says he’s open to making a deal with either the Greens or the Coalition, flatly rejecting Ley’s request to split up the environment bill into various chunks to be voted on separately.It’s because she’s desperately trying to shore up her leadership ahead of some very difficult net zero conversations with her party room. This week, Sussan Ley is in danger of putting her own leadership ahead of the environment and ahead of business.We can’t split the bill. We need to do both, and we need to get on with it.We have been consulting to death on these reforms, and both business and environment groups are crying out for reform to finally be delivered.I can’t make that any clearer. I’ve met the same number of times with the Coalition and the Greens. I’ve spoken as recently as yesterday with representatives from those parties. What we’re about is passing a bill that is good for the environment and good for business, and it’s up to the Coalition and the Greens to decide, are they prepared to do that, or are they going to go into their corners and fight for a bill that only delivers to the environment or only delivers to business? Continue reading...