Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013

The majority voted against an amendment that would ensure that the federal government kept the power to make major environmental approvals rather than handing that power over to state governments. The amendment was introduced by Greens MP Adam Bandt.

This means that the majority of MPs disagreed with the amendment.

Debate in Parliament

• Liberal MP Greg Hunt said that the government rejects the amendment because "we support one-stop shops".

• Labor MP Mark Butler said that the Labor Party supported the amendment because the national environment minister should always have the capacity to deal with matters of national environmental significance.

Background to the bill

The Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 was introduced in response to the Federal Court’s decision in Tarkine National Coalition Incorporated v Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities () FCA 694.(The Tarkine is an area in north west Tasmania. For more information on the case, see this case note. The case is available to read on AustLII.)