Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

As Minister for Environment, introduced and strongly defended the bill, emphasising the Rehabilitation Commissioner role and residual risk reforms as key to achieving world-leading rehabilitation standards.

“The Palaszczuk government is serious about Queensland being a world leader in rehabilitation standards for the resources sector to benefit the environment, the community and, importantly, our government's plan for jobs and economic recovery.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Announced the opposition will not oppose the bill but criticised the rushed process, questioned the need for a new commissioner costing $8 million when existing department staff could fulfil the role, and raised concerns about delegating power to bureaucrats.

“The Rehabilitation Commissioner will cost this state $8 million over the next six years and will employ another six full-time staff. We still do not know what that function will look like.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Raised concerns about duplication of functions with the Rehabilitation Commissioner and criticised the government for allowing unrehabilitated mines in Willowbank to become dumps.

“My concern is that the Rehabilitation Commissioner, in relation to those local issues in Willowbank, will not have any power at all to deal with rehabilitation of mines because there is a process underway, which the government is allowing to proceed, that is seeing them turned into dumps.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

As shadow minister for mines, acknowledged the importance of rehabilitation but criticised the government for multiple failures including lack of consultation, missing guidelines, and delegating legislative functions to bureaucrats.

“That is four notable failures by this government, but there are more to come. Every Queenslander deserves to know that the Palaszczuk government has not only failed to consult properly on this legislation but also failed the moral test when they attempted to cover up their failure.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Supported the establishment of the Rehabilitation Commissioner as critical for improving rehabilitation outcomes in the resources sector.

“These legislative reforms are critical for the future of environmental protection and addressing equity issues to create economic opportunities for First Nation peoples.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Opposed the bill entirely on behalf of the mining and resource industries and farming industries, arguing the Rehabilitation Commissioner could become a 'political hitman' for ideological government ministers.

“I oppose this bill in its entirety. I do this on behalf of the mining and resource industries, the grazing and farming industries and everybody associated with them.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill based on her experience visiting rehabilitated mine sites in the Bowen Basin, highlighting successful rehabilitation programs at Coppabella mine.

“The rehabilitation of mining land in my region is vitally important to land health, the environment and the ability to re-use land once mining operations are extinguished from a mine site.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Supported the Rehabilitation Commissioner role as vital for achieving confidence in rehabilitated mine land outcomes, though noted concerns about limited stakeholder consultation due to COVID-19.

“We all need to be confident about the outcomes for rehabilitated mine land. The role of the commissioner is vital in this, as is the funding and the ability to move forward in the rehabilitation of those sites.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Strongly supported the Rehabilitation Commissioner as fulfilling her commitment made in 2018 during mine closure negotiations, emphasising the need for independent oversight of mine rehabilitation.

“I committed this government to progress a rehabilitation commissioner for our state. This was not, as the member for Callide would say, as a result of the desire to grow a bureaucracy but because it was very clear that, whether you are a landholder or whether you are someone who is incredibly interested in the environment, our track record when it comes to mine rehabilitation in this state needs to improve.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

As committee member, raised concerns about the rushed process, lack of consultation, missing guidelines, and absence of regulatory impact assessment, though acknowledged the LNP will not oppose the bill.

“Whilst we will not be opposing the bill, it is very hard to have a lot of confidence in this government to deliver any meaningful result out of such a poorly drafted piece of legislation.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

As committee member, supported the bill's objectives of establishing the Rehabilitation Commissioner and enhancing the residual risk framework.

“The principle policy objectives of the Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 are: firstly, to clarify and enhance the residual risk framework to better manage risks on site after an environmental authority for a resource activity has been surrendered; and, secondly, to provide for the statutory appointment of a Rehabilitation Commissioner.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Could not support the bill as it perpetuated what he considered questionable reef science wrongly demonising farmers, announcing KAP has a bill ready to repeal the reef regulations.

“The KAP cannot support the Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill as it sets a perception of cleaning up the reef regulation legislation implemented by this government. We should not even be debating this legislation as the original bill should never have been forced on farmers in the first place.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

As committee member, supported the establishment of the Rehabilitation Commissioner to provide independent expert advice and community confidence in rehabilitation outcomes.

“The commissioner will raise awareness of rehabilitation matters; will be responsible for chairing relevant workshops and forums; and will monitor and report on rehabilitation performance and trends to the minister responsible for the EP Act.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

As committee member, raised concerns about missing guidelines, lack of regulatory impact assessment, and delegation of legislative functions, but acknowledged the LNP is not opposing the bill.

“The LNP is concerned that the key underlying instruments of the legislation, such as the guidelines regarding the administration of the residual risk fund and the calculator for undertaking calculations on residual risk, are still unfinished and unpublished.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

As Minister for Transport and Main Roads, expressed strong support for both bills, emphasising that best practice mine site rehabilitation is an important environmental reform.

“The protection of our environment is a core value of mine and a core value of this government. Best practice mine site rehabilitation is an important environmental reform in Queensland given our history.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

As committee chair, defended the bill and criticised the LNP's claims about enforcement, reminding the House that the LNP cut environment staff by 33 per cent when in government.

“No-one actually believes what the LNP say about improving enforcement, because we know that if they ever get in they cut, sack and sell every time.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard

Criticised the government's poor consultation process and the combination of two distinct bills, noting the Queensland Resources Council's scathing assessment of the consultation period.

“We heard Ian Macfarlane say that they were initially given four days in which to make a contribution to the committee on this bill and they were able to bargain that up to six days. Considering the wide implications of this bill—according to the Queensland Resources Council, which ought to know—that was not adequate consultation.”— 2020-08-11View Hansard