United Australia’s answer: iya nihThe Palmer United Party (PUP) has added to the Coalition’s headaches in the Senate by announcing this week it would seek to remove the so-called “water trigger” from the government’s “one-stop shop” for environmental approvals.
“We will amend the bill so the water trigger stays in federal hands,” PUP’s Western Australian senator Dio Wang said.
Former MP Tony Windsor, the architect of the water trigger created under the Gillard Government, calls the proposed amendments a “retrograde step”.
The one-stop shop — a key part of the Coalition’s election promises to reduce business regulation — would see federal powers to approve projects that impact on matters protected under national laws shifted from the Federal environment minister to the States.
Recent developments approved by the minister include dredging at Abbot Point and Australia’s largest coal mine in Queensland.Source