Resources Minister calls for Coalition, Greens to avoid Senate EPBC spat or shoulder blame for broken system

Alcoa’s gallium recovery project at Wagerup south of Perth won’t be subject to Federal consideration under the redesigned environmental laws, according to Australia’s Resources Minister.

Madeleine King said debate on the reworked legislation has “gone on too long” and called for “all parties to act in the national interest” ahead of an expected Senate spat next week.

Environment Minister Murray Watt is expected to introduce amendments to Australia’s outdated environmental laws to Parliament as early as Wednesday, after his predecessor Tanya Plibersek failed to refresh the 1999 Act last term.

But The Greens have already blasted the changes as being too pro-business, while the Coalition says there isn’t yet enough detail about the benefits to project proponents from promised faster timeframes.

Ms King has warned the those across the political spectrum to either work with the government to pass Senator Watt’s redesigned legislation or shoulder the responsibility and criticism for keeping a broken system in place.

“It’s up to the Opposition whether they want to support a more efficient and more effective system of regulatory approvals for the mining industry,” Ms King told The West on Friday.

If they want the status quo of a broken system, then they’ll be held responsible for slowing up what is a landmark change.

Ms King also expressed confidence the changes wouldn’t jeopardise the critical minerals deal the Albanese Government struck with the Trump Administration earlier this week.

“With the reforms to the EPBC Act, I’m certain we’ll be able to be more efficient and more effective for the environment and for these critical minerals projects into the future,” Ms King said.

Senator Watt when as far to claim that if the laws don’t pass — it would hurt the recent critical minerals deal with the US.

Alcoa’s gallium mine in WA had been name-dropped in the White House discussions but has since been subject to debate about whether it would “wouldn’t even get a start” under the new laws.

Alcoa had claimed on Wednesday the site wouldn’t fall under the new legislation and would only require State approvals because the mine is on the existing footprint of the bauxite refinery.

Ms King, however, vowed on Friday that it wouldn’t be impacted by the rejig.

“My understanding around the gallium project is what Alcoa is saying is correct, that they already fall under the WA EPA,” Ms King said.

“The gallium project is really a bolt-on, extra refinery to the Wagerup refinery, which is already a brownfield site. It’s a heavy industrial site that’s got all its permits and meeting its obligations.

“We’ll make sure that that’s all cleared off, and we’ll speak to Alcoa further. But my understanding is that is correct.”

Senator Watt described commentary in recent days by the Coalition and Greens as “just the usual argy-bargy” which plays out before legislation is debated in Parliament — expressing his confidence he’d struck the right balance.

“Over the last couple of days, we’ve seen the Coalition say that this legislation is too good for the environment. We’ve seen the Greens say that it’s too good for business. It sounds to me like we’ve got the balance pretty right,” Senator Watt told Sky News on Friday.

Senator Watt said the government was “of course” “open to considering amendments” presented.

“We presented significant parts of the draft bill to both the Greens and the Coalition along with a range of stakeholders… they’re welcome to come forward with amendments,” he said.

Graeme Samuel — who penned comprehensive review of the nation’s environmental laws — said he hoped it wouldn’t end in a Senate spat.

“I sincerely hope not,” he told ABC Afternoon Briefing on Friday.

“I’m trying not to be political but... This is beyond posturing. I‘m very disappointed. I’m frustrated, and frankly, I’m getting very angry.

“Remember, the review was not about me or even the group in the Department. This about future generations of Australia knowing that the degradation of the environment will cease and will start to restore it.”

Friday, October 31 will mark five years since he handed down the final report, which had been commissioned by Sussan Ley when she was the Environment Minister under a then-Morrison Liberal government

Mr Samuel also revealed he was ”bitterly disappointed” that senior Coalition members didn’t follow up after he agreed to a briefing request on the redesigned laws.

“It’s bitterly disappointing because it says to me that there are potentially political games being played or posturing — which we should be putting aside.”