Big miners ready to compromise on green laws, Murray Watt says
Environment Minister Murray Watt says some big miners and developers he is consulting about revamping environmental protection laws are prepared to accept higher conservation standards as a trade-off for more streamlined approval processes.
As he prepares to meet stakeholders on Thursday, Watt linked reviving environmental reforms that stalled during the Albanese government's first term with its second-term productivity agenda.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Foreign Minister Penny Wong ‘sure' Anthony Albanese will schedule Trump meeting
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Anthony Albanese is still considering whether he will fly to next week's NATO summit to meet with Donald Trump. The Prime Minister's highly anticipated meeting with the US President was called off after Mr Trump abruptly left the G7 Summit in Canada on Tuesday, amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled meetings were also cancelled. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Thursday that she knew Mr Albanese was considering whether he should go to next week's NATO summit in the Netherlands. Senator Wong said she was 'sure' a meeting between the two leaders would occur at some point. 'In relation to the President, I'm sure there will be a meeting scheduled, and the Prime Minister looks forward to building on three very constructive phone calls,' she said. 'It's good to have some perspective here - there is a war going on in the Middle East, there's a war going on in Europe. 'President Trump left the G7, obviously wasn't able to meet the Prime Minister and wasn't able to proceed with the scheduled meeting. 'He also wasn't able to have his scheduled meeting with the President of (South) Korea or the Prime Minister of India. So this is understandable in the circumstances.' Although both leaders were previously expected to attend the NATO Summit at The Hague, on Wednesday Mr Albanese said he was 'still considering' the trip and declined to confirm when a meeting with Mr Trump would be rescheduled. 'We'll meet soon and I'm sure that will occur. From time to time meetings are rescheduled, that's what happens,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Kananaskis while attending the G7. 'Those discussions have taken place over a period of time, and we'll continue to engage.'
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Higher taxes': Fear after Labor flags reforms
The opposition says it is open to working with Labor on tax reforms but is warning against putting further pressure on Australians. Jim Chalmers used a major speech on Wednesday to flag the Albanese government was looking at reforms beyond its proposal to roll back concessions on ultra-high super accounts. The Treasurer said a rethink was needed to address revenue challenges posed by an ageing population and the transition to net zero. Mr Chalmers also said it would be on the agenda at the upcoming roundtable on productivity, which measures how efficiently labour can produce goods and services. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has flagged broader tax reforms beyond Labor's proposal to roll back concessions on ultra-high super balances. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson has welcomed 'the government's recognition that we have a productivity crisis' and said roundtable 'is a good first step'. 'But we need more than just a meeting,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'We need a plan of action to come out of it.' In his speech, Mr Chalmers said reforms would open opportunities for tax breaks for some but warned there would be 'trade-offs' that could leave some paying more. Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson says he is 'concerned' Labor is pushing for higher taxes. Jason Edwards / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'I am concerned that the Treasurer is possibly preparing the ground here for higher taxes and in the middle of a productivity crisis, and particularly in the middle of a business investment crisis, which is at decade lows, the last thing the Australian economy needs right now is higher taxes,' Senator Paterson said. 'We are up for a conversation with the government, to work with them constructively to make our tax system more efficient, to collect revenue and revenues in ways that are less distortionary, but we are not going to give them a blank cheque to increase taxes on Australians at the worst possible time for our economy.'
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Opposition open to tax reform, warns against hiking pressure on Australians
The opposition says it is open to working with Labor on tax reforms but is warning against putting further pressure on Australians. Jim Chalmers used a major speech on Wednesday to flag the Albanese government was looking at reforms beyond its proposal to roll back concessions on ultra-high super accounts. The Treasurer said a rethink was needed to address revenue challenges posed by an ageing population and the transition to net zero. Mr Chalmers also said it would be on the agenda at the upcoming roundtable on productivity, which measures how efficiently labour can produce goods and services. Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson has welcomed 'the government's recognition that we have a productivity crisis' and said roundtable 'is a good first step'. 'But we need more than just a meeting,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'We need a plan of action to come out of it.' In his speech, Mr Chalmers said reforms would open opportunities for tax breaks for some but warned there would be 'trade-offs' that could leave some paying more. 'I am concerned that the Treasurer is possibly preparing the ground here for higher taxes and in the middle of a productivity crisis, and particularly in the middle of a business investment crisis, which is at decade lows, the last thing the Australian economy needs right now is higher taxes,' Senator Paterson said. 'We are up for a conversation with the government, to work with them constructively to make our tax system more efficient, to collect revenue and revenues in ways that are less distortionary, but we are not going to give them a blank cheque to increase taxes on Australians at the worst possible time for our economy.'
