In October 2023, I introduced a Private Member’s Bill to amend the federal environment laws so that our precious water resources would be protected from fracking. The government acted. In December 2023, they adopted the thrust of my bill and improved the environmental laws.

This remains the only change to our broken environmental laws that the government has made in this term of Parliament, despite having campaigned on a platform of environmental protection.

 
The new laws strengthen the water trigger in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) to ensure all unconventional gas fracking projects are assessed by the Federal Environment Minister for their impact on local water resources. It means that future projects in areas like the massive proposed Beetaloo basin development in the Northern Territory will now have to undertake studies of the likely impact on aquifers and rivers and get federal approval before proceeding.

Previously only coal seam gas projects were required to be assessed and approved under Australia’s national environment laws. 

To see the press release on the Bill. Click here.