Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
Senator the Hon Jonno Duniam
Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry
Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
Senator for Tasmania
Joint Media Release
8 April 2025
LABOR’S REHASHED FEDERAL EPA A THREAT TO RESOURCES STATES
The Federal Coalition has condemned Labor’s plans to bring back its job-destroying Federal Environment Protection Agency if they win the 2025 election.
Visiting Western Australia on Tuesday with Senator Michaelia Cash, Shadow Environment Minister Jonno Duniam said that this is a copy of Labor’s failed election platform from three years ago, and that this rehashed proposal would only duplicate State and Territory processes that already exist.
“If Labor had a genuine commitment to protecting the environment, they would focus on meaningful and effective policy rather than rehashing failed proposals from the past that pose a real risk to economic development” Senator Duniam said.
“This is an expensive Federal bureaucracy that is unnecessary. Indeed, in his Coalition-initiated review of our environmental legislation framework, Professor Graeme Samuel never even mentioned this idea. It was only cooked up by Labor boffins on the last day of the election campaign in 2022 to try to save the then Labor Shadow Environment Minister’s seat.”
“Voters see this latest ploy for what it is: a marketing gimmick for inner-city Labor MPs and candidates to ward off votes from the Greens this election cycle.”
“Tanya Plibersek promised wholesale reform to the EPBC Act by the end of 2023 and has failed to even release an exposure draft. The key environmental priority for the Federal Government should be EPBC reform, not pursuing something that will create more and more layers of green tape and does not guarantee better environmental outcomes.”
“The Coalition wants to see reform to national environmental laws and our precious biodiversity protected, but we can do this in a sensible, balanced way, not in a manner that generates more green tape for the sake of it.”
Senator Duniam added that $45 million of taxpayers money has already been spent on the Federal EPA that hasn’t even been legislated.
“The Government have spent $45 million on something that doesn’t exist and that the Prime Minister promised this term that he wouldn’t re-introduce. His promises mean nothing and Labor’s reckless spending of taxpayer funds has reached new depths.”
Shadow Attorney General, Michaelia Cash, said that an EPA would be a handicap on resources states, and that the only way the Prime Minister could get this bureaucracy passed is to do a deal with the Greens.
“Resources states like Western Australia want and need reform to environmental approval laws so that we can bring back certainty that has crashed under this Government. This new Federal bureaucracy is the last thing that is needed because it will wrap our industries, who care more for the environment than activists would let on, in more green tape.”
“The Prime Minister is again two-timing Australians. He said in Western Australia only six months ago that he would not do a deal with the Greens to pass a Federal EPA, but that is now his only option if he wants to pursue it again.”
“Among other demands, they will likely press for an end to native forestry operations nationwide, blocking of the extension of the North West Shelf project, and a shut down of other crucial regional businesses and industries like salmon farming in Tasmania. This is bad news not only for Western Australia, but also the rest of our entire country.”
“Australians can not trust the Labor Government to deliver sensible environmental reforms, especially in collusion with the Greens and Teals.”
“As well as threatening mining and resources projects, the WA Chamber of Commerce estimates these laws would increase housing costs and dramatically increase electricity prices.”
Only a Dutton Coalition Government will bring back certainty to the environment portfolio, responsibly balance our economic and environmental needs, and get Australia back on track.
ENDS
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