Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsideration of Decisions) Bill 2024; Second Reading

Opened the debate

Colbeck argued the bill addressed a problem created by the government reopening a decade-old approval for salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour based on submissions from the Environmental Defenders Office. Colbeck stated that major industry groups, including the Business Council of Australia, Santos, and Tilt Renewables, supported the amendment to ensure investment certainty and reduce sovereign risk. The legislation proposed that reconsideration requests could only be made within three years of a decision, or thereafter only by a state or territory minister. Colbeck contended that the government had failed to deliver broader EPBC reforms and was prioritising environmental groups over economic stability.

Government response

Grogan argued the bill was unnecessary and counterproductive, citing a Senate committee inquiry that recommended against its passage. Grogan stated that the current EPBC Act already contained strict safeguards requiring substantial new information for reconsiderations, and that limiting requests to a three-year window would ignore long-term environmental changes. Grogan criticised the bill for excluding community groups and independent experts from requesting reviews, which would reduce public oversight and transparency. Grogan emphasised the need for balanced reform that protects both workers and the environment, rather than the ideological approach proposed by the Coalition.

Opposition response

Duniam argued the bill was essential to provide certainty for the Tasmanian salmon industry, which employs 5,000 people and has operated for over a decade. Duniam claimed that environmental groups, such as the Bob Brown Foundation, were politically motivated and opposed to economic outcomes for regional communities. Duniam highlighted the anxiety faced by workers in Strahan due to prolonged uncertainty over their jobs. Duniam urged the government to support the bill or propose amendments to protect the industry, stating that voting against it would signal acceptance of activist opposition to the sector.