FILE PHOTO: Storm clouds can be seen behind chimneys at the Bayswater coal-powered thermal power station located near the central New South Wales town of Muswellbrook, Australia, March 14, 2017. Picture taken March 14, 2017. The Greens said Labor's plan to allow coal and gas projects to use fast-tracked approvals based on "national interest" would be dropped. - Reuters
SYDNEY: Australia will overhaul its environment laws in long-awaited reforms after the Greens party agreed to back the centre-left Labor government's legislation on the final day of parliament for the year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday (Nov 27).
The reforms will establish an independent National Environment Protection Agency to strengthen compliance and enforcement, impose higher penalties for major breaches of the law, and remove exemptions from the legislation for "high-risk land clearing and regional forest agreements."
