EPBC - Environmental Protection and Bio Diversity Act 1999
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| The clear waters of the Never Never Creek outside of Bellingen NSW |
I was reading Alan Jones comments about this and he said per this transcription the following:
Coal seam gas: Well, debate in the Senate on Environment Minister Tony Burke’s so-called “water trigger” legislation continued yesterday without a vote.
This is the legislation which will allow the Minister to take into account the effects on groundwater when considering whether to grant approval to coal seam gas mining projects.
The Greens were proposing four [4] amendments to:give landholders a right to say no to mining on their land, apply the water trigger to four [4] coal seam gas projects which have already been approved, broaden the water trigger to include shale and other gas mining as well as coal seam gas mining, and ensure all matters of significance are considered by the Minister before granting mining approvals.
But Federal Cabinet decided last night to direct Labor Senators to vote against these amendments. However, one Lower House amendment which is already part of the Bill, will outlaw bilateral agreements with the States under which the Commonwealth could refer its water trigger approval powers to the States.
This amendment is an attempt to prevent any incoming Coalition Government from delegating responsibility for these decisions to the States as the Coalition has suggested it wants to do.
It would have been preferable had the water trigger legislation included the Greens’ amendments. But, even without them, this Bill is better than nothing. Debate in the Senate will resume today. Let’s hope a vote is taken and it is also passed today.
ALAN JONES DAILY COMMENTS POD CAST
Well the vote was taken and the result was this: An amendment moved by Coalition Senator Simon Birmingham, that would have effectively knocked out Mr Windsor's amendment, was defeated 34-28 on Monday night.
