Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. The truth is that our environment laws aren't working. There is a very broad consensus that that is the case, and we are working to get it right, because they're not working for business and they're not working for the environment. Approvals take too long; processes lack certainty and need to be streamlined. These are laws that were drafted in the Howard era for the Howard era and are just not fit for purpose. We believe that the laws that are before the parliament are balanced. They will help to grow the economy, but they'll also help to make sure that future generations of Australians get to enjoy the benefits of our unique environment. The author of the report that was commissioned by the former government, Graeme Samuel, has come out very clearly and said that the laws that have been put forward are consistent with Graeme Samuel's review.

I'm not quite sure that the member is being fair dinkum with the quotes that she says of the groups that are supporting this legislation, to be honest. What we need to do is to not play these games, which led to nothing being carried during the last term, of a 'no-alition'—people saying they're against it. They sat in the parliament for a long period of time and were up there in the Senate, waiting for them to be carried.

See this speech in context