Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, thank you. I welcome the establishment of the EPA to bring independence and rigour to a system that we all acknowledge is broken. There's no doubt about that; we need a strong cop on the beat. But that cop, Environment Protection Australia, will only be able to do what the powers in this legislation and the objects set out in it allow. That's why it's so important for them to be specific and to be included. I should say that this was, as I've said already, in the minister's and the department's own initial consultation process and document. I'm concerned that the minister has lost the opportunity to reach the full potential of the EPA by failing to adopt these and the other amendments proposed by members of the crossbench.

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