Lock the Gate Alliance National Coordinator Ellen Roberts has today interrupted Albanese Government Environment Minister Murray Watt’s Queensland Press Club address to highlight how proposed environment laws go backwards when compared to the already existing weak laws.
Ms Roberts climbed the stage and approached Murray Watt holding a flag that said “Watt’s laws fast track coal and gas”, drawing attention to the fact the Albanese Government’s environment reforms will mean mining projects are assessed via streamlined assessment and quicker development pathways without considering climate impacts, and exclude the community.
Security then removed Ms Roberts from the stage and escorted her out of the press club venue. Vision is available here.
Ms Roberts said, “Murray Watt is limbering up to do a dirty deal on these laws which will fast track coal and gas projects, and gut protections for the water that farmers and regional communities rely on.
“Lock the Gate Alliance and the vast majority of other environment groups have been locked out of Murray Watt’s consultations with big business over these laws that take us backwards.
“As an organisation, we are left with no other option but to approach Murray Watt whenever we have the chance to communicate the concerns of the hundreds of on the ground community groups we work with.
“These proposed reforms fail nature and they fail Australia, and Murray Watt knows it.”
Lock the Gate is one of 130 environment groups who have condemned the laws, and will appear today in the Senate Inquiry about the threats these proposed reforms pose to Australia’s environment and regional communities.
ENDS