Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

In closing, the proposed amendments require landholders and occupiers to consent before the environment minister can approve a project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in relation to the proposed water trigger. The proposed amendment would, in effect, allow a single owner or occupier of land to veto approvals of coal seam gas or coalmining development under the EPBC Act and in relation to the proposed water trigger. The government's advice is that there is constitutional uncertainty and risk associated with the proposed amendment and therefore the government does not support the proposed amendment.