Bill

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Expanding the Water Trigger) Bill 2023

lapsed, as at 2024-06-25.

Recorded stages

No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.

Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2023-10-16.

This bill would make more gas mining projects require federal environmental assessment and approval.

It would replace the current category of coal seam gas with a broader one covering all unconventional gas, including shale and tight gas.

The environment minister would have to consult a scientific committee when such projects are deemed controlled actions.

Expands the water trigger to all unconventional gas developments.
Requires project proponents to refer unconventional gas actions for a controlled action decision.
Gives the environment minister a call-in power to request referrals.
Requires the minister to seek scientific advice from the expert committee on unconventional gas and large coal mining projects.

Proponents of unconventional gas developments and the federal environment minister.

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