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Tell Murray Watt: Don't ignore climate damage

Labor open to deal with Coalition on environmental law overhaul

Environment Minister Murray Watt is trying to rush new environmental laws through Parliament – but his proposal fails the climate test.

Under Watt's plan, new coal and gas projects could still be approved without any assessment of their climate pollution – our biggest environmental threat.

Instead of standing up to fossil fuel companies, Labor is courting votes from Barnaby Joyce, Matt Canavan and other climate deniers to push the bill through.

Labor promised to fix Australia's broken environment laws, but this proposal falls short. It leaves out a climate trigger, weakens enforcement, and fails to close loopholes that allow mass deforestation – even in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

Tell Minister Murray Watt and the government: our environment laws must protect nature, stop new coal and gas, and include a real climate trigger.

The Albanese Government is rewriting the EPBC Act – Australia's main environment law – which for years has failed to protect our forests, wildlife, and climate. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a system that's let powerful industries destroy the environment with little consequence. If we get it right, these reforms could finally put nature and climate at the heart of government decisions.
Right now, the plan leaves out a climate trigger – meaning new coal and gas projects could still be approved without assessing the massive climate pollution they create. That's not a fix – it's business as usual. Without a climate trigger, the government's so-called "strong new environment laws" would still allow fossil fuel corporations to pump out pollution that drives bushfires, floods, and heatwaves – all without scrutiny. It's a glaring omission that keeps the same broken system in place: approving fossil fuel projects while pretending they don't fuel the very climate disasters the laws are meant to prevent. Labor's proposal might look like reform, but without tackling the climate crisis head-on, it's a missed opportunity – and a betrayal of the Australians who voted for real environmental protection.
Instead of working with the Greens, Independents, and climate-conscious voters who want stronger laws, Labor is trying to win the support of the Coalition – the same politicians who still question whether climate change is real. Far-right lobby group Advance Australia is already campaigning to water down the reforms and turn Net Zero into a culture-war issue. By courting them, Labor is giving climate deniers a seat at the table.

SIGN NOW:

Dear Minister Watt: Your proposed environment laws fail the climate test. They would let new coal and gas projects go ahead without considering the pollution they create — our biggest environmental threat.

We call on you to include a climate trigger in the EPBC reforms, establish a strong and independent Environmental Protection Agency, close loopholes that allow deforestation and fossil fuel expansion – and reject any weak deal with the Coalition.


10,624 signatures

We need 4,376 more

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