Australian Greens Dissenting Report

1.1The Australian Greens believe this Bill is critical in closing a glaring loophole in our environment laws, and we support its urgent passage.

1.2In 2024, it is entirely unacceptable that that our national environment laws do not act upon the impact of greenhouse gases and global warming on our ecosystems and species.

1.3Climate change is the greatest threat to our natural world. Global warming is an existential risk to the health of our rivers and oceans, the quality of our forests and soil, future food security and the survival of our wildlife. A record number of species was added to Australia’s threatened species list in 2023.

1.4And yet, the laws meant to protect our environment offer no protection against its biggest threat. Under Australia’s environment laws, the Environment Minister is not required to consider the impacts of climate-wrecking projects on the survival of our unique species and ecosystems. The continued approvals of coal and gas projects not only fuel the warming that is putting great strain on Australia’s environment, but greenlight the immediate destruction of key habitat these plants and animals need for any hope of survival.

1.5As long as our environment laws fail to assess climate-wrecking projects for their impacts, Australia will remain a global leader in extinction.

1.6This Bill is an opportunity to urgently close this damaging loophole.

1.7It is very disappointing to see the Majority report rule out implementing a climate assessment for projects not only under the current laws, but in their upcoming reformed laws. It points to the Safeguard Mechanism as Labor’s sole solution to the climate crisis, deeming this Bill unnecessary.

1.8This completely ignores the deep and inherent link between our climate and environment. The Safeguard Mechanism is but one measure required to address the threats of climate change on Australia’s communities, environment, economies. The Safeguard Mechanism does not consider the impact of fossil fuels and global warming on our natural environment.

1.9The job is not done.

1.10Every time the Minister approves a new coal or gas project it makes the climate crisis worse. That means more frequent and extreme bushfires and extreme weather events. Every tonne of coal mined, gas extracted and every tree cleared puts Australia’s precious environment and communities on the frontline of the climate crisis.

1.11Falling short of addressing the impact of climate change on our environment will be a blatant failure of the Albanese Government to fix one of the key problems with Australia’s environment laws. Broken environment laws will remain broken, so long as they do not deal with climate change.

1.12Almost 20 years ago, current Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP introduced a similar Climate Trigger Bill into the House. He said:

The glaring gap in matters of national environmental significance is climate change. This bill closes that gap… It is time to act. It is time for procrastination to end... We cannot any longer afford to be complacent on this issue.[1]

1.13If we could not afford complacency in 2005, we certainly cannot waste a single moment now. We are in a climate emergency and we must stop making it worse.

1.14The Albanese Government must listen to the calls of scientists, experts and the broader community. Implementing a climate trigger in our environment laws is the single biggest contribution the Government could make right now to addressing the linked climate and biodiversity crises.

1.15Reformed environment laws will not be credible without it.

1.16This Bill must pass as a matter of urgency.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

Deputy Chair

Footnotes

[1]The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, House of Representatives Hansard, 5 September 2005, p. 16.