Environment Discussions in the Senate (23/07/2025)

Senator Katy Gallagher initiated the discussion focused on climate and environmental legislation by bringing attention to two significant bills: the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2022 and the Housing Investment Probity Bill 2024 (Page 1).

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young reintroduced the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2022, which aims to ensure that climate impacts are considered in project approvals by the environment minister (Page 1). During her speech, she passionately argued the necessity of including climate pollution in project evaluations, stressing the urgent environmental threats posed by climate change through personal anecdotes and local examples (Pages 1-3).

In response, Senator Karen Grogan conveyed that the Albanese government would not support the bill, citing the complexities involved in addressing climate change and criticizing the previous coalition government’s lack of action on this issue (Page 3). Meanwhile, Senator Matthew Canavan challenged the bill’s necessity, arguing it would not effectively resolve climate issues and was not aligned with the original intentions of the EPBC Act (Pages 5-7).

Senator Steph Hodgins-May expressed strong support for the bill, highlighting the critical need for legislative measures to combat climate change and criticizing prior government approvals for fossil fuel projects (Page 7).

The session continued with various senators raising concerns over environmental issues, including the effects of recent events like algal blooms on local fishing communities, as highlighted by Senator Cadell (Page 54). Additionally, Senator Waters from the Greens raised issues linked to the North West Shelf Project, calling for accountability regarding its environmental impact (Page 99).

Throughout the proceedings, the emphasis remained on the pressing need for comprehensive climate policies and the acknowledgment of environmental concerns within legislative processes. The discussions crystallized around the need for urgent governmental action on climate change, reflecting the broader context of community and environmental protection priorities (Pages 1-3, 54, 99).