Australia Parliament Introduces Environment Protection Legislation

The Albanese Labor Government has today introduced legislation into Parliament to set up Australia's first national environment protection agency with strong new powers and penalties to better protect nature.

Australia Parliament Introduces Environment Protection Legislation -0
Source: www.aph.gov.au

Delivering on our election commitment, Environment Protection Australia will be a tough cop on the beat. It will be able to issue 'stop-work' orders to prevent serious environmental damage and proactively audit business to ensure they're doing the right thing.

The Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill 2024 is the heart of the second stage of our Nature Positive Plan - delivering reforms that benefit both nature and business.

Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek will ask the new EPA to examine illegal land clearing and offset conditions as a priority, after a recent audit found one in seven developments could be in breach of their offset conditions.

Penalties will be increased to align maximum fines with punishments for serious financial offences. Courts would also be able to impose fines of up to $780 million or send people to prison for up to seven years for extremely serious intentional breaches of federal environment law.

The Nature Positive (Environment Information Australia) Bill 2024 has also been introduced today.

It will set up the statutory and independent head of the new EIA, which will provide up-to-date, transparent environmental data and information to the public. This will be a reliable resource to help business make faster, easier development decisions. The EIA will also release State of the Environment reports every two years instead of five.

In a world first, this bill also provides a legal definition of, and reporting measure for, 'nature positive'. Creating a Nature Positive Australia means that nature is repairing and regenerating rather than continuing to be decline.

The Government delivered stage one of its Nature Positive Plan last year. We will fully deliver the third stage by continuing to consult closely with stakeholders on further updates to national environment laws. A comprehensive exposure draft of the laws will be released for public comment before being introduced to parliament.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek:

"Through our Nature Positive Plan, we are doing more than ever to protect our natural world and fix more of what's been damaged, while also supporting sensible development and good local jobs.

"We've already completed the first stage of reform: passing legislation to establish the world's first nature repair market and expanding the water trigger to apply to all unconventional gas projects.

"Now we're moving quickly to deliver Environment Protection Australia and Environment Information Australia.

"Combined with a significant investment in funding, this stage of the reforms will deliver stronger environment protection powers, faster environment approvals, more environment information and greater transparency.

"These are big steps forward - for the environment and for business - and it's all new under this Government.

"We will fully deliver the third stage of reform as we work to make environmental laws less bureaucratic and fit for purpose. We've already consulted almost 100 groups, held public webinars which 3,000 people have attended, and received around 2,500 submissions. We will continue this work to get the laws right - for the environment and for business."

Parliaments

UK introduces new law to protect seafarer employment rights
Parliaments

UK introduces new law to protect seafarer employment rights

According to Nautilus International, the Employment Rights Bill is expected to introduce new protections specifically devised for seafarers, toughening the laws around collective dismissal, and cementing seafarer wage protections in UK law. The Bill, being introduced to Parliament this week, will seek to outlaw fire and rehire by requiring employers to prove there is no reasonable financial alternative to letting staff go.

Canada approves new law to develop offshore wind on its Atlantic coast
Parliaments

Canada approves new law to develop offshore wind on its Atlantic coast

Canada’s Senate has approved a new law, named bill C-49, which is set to unlock the country’s offshore renewable energy potential in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, on Canada’s Atlantic coast. The bill, which includes the production of wind power as well as hydrogen, now awaits royal ascent.

California nurses applaud new law that provides transparency, improves equity in nursing education
Parliaments

California nurses applaud new law that provides transparency, improves equity in nursing education

California Nurses Association, the largest union of registered nurses in the state, applauds the signing of Senate Bill 1015 by Governor Gavin Newsom. Nurses say the new law, which was authored by Senator Dave Cortese and sponsored by CNA, is an essential step towards ensuring clinical placement opportunities for California’s future nurses, particularly for students attending public institutions like community colleges and state universities.

Seychelles' parliament adopts motion to make sign language official language
Parliaments

Seychelles' parliament adopts motion to make sign language official language

The National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion to designate Seychelles Deaf Language as an official national language, marking a significant milestone for the islands' hearing-impaired populationin. The motion was brought forward by Regina Esparon, the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) elected member for Glacis, on behalf of the Women's Parliamentary Caucus, coinciding with the Deaf Week 2024.

Ireland: New law to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours
Parliaments

Ireland: New law to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours

Disposable vapes will be banned and vape flavours and colours restricted under new legislation proposed by the government. The Department of Health yesterday published the general scheme of the proposed Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill, which will introduce further restrictions on nicotine inhaling products or vapes.

Brazil calls EU to suspend anti-deforestation law
Parliaments

Brazil calls EU to suspend anti-deforestation law

Brasília urges the European Commission to reconsider its anti-deforestation rules, which could potentially impact Brazil’s exports by almost US$15 billion. The European legislation passed in 2022 includes a ban on the import of products from areas deforested from 2022 onwards, even if deforestation is legal in those areas. 

UK parliament recognizes Bitcoin and digital assets as personal property
Parliaments

UK parliament recognizes Bitcoin and digital assets as personal property

The UK Parliament has introduced the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Bill today to officially and legally recognize Bitcoin $57,732.86, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets as personal property. This new law will, for the first time, formally protect digital assets such as Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and carbon credits under English law, News.Az reports citing Cointurk news.