TRANSCRIPT – ABC Capricornia Breakfast with Jeremy Jones

Angie Bell MP

Shadow Minister for the Environment

Shadow Minister for Youth

Federal Member for Moncrieff

TRANSCRIPT

ABC Capricornia Breakfast with Jeremy Jones

14 October 2025

Subjects: Central Queensland visit, EPBC reforms and key stakeholder engagement, Speaking with the next generation of young people about their concerns for the future.

E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………………………

JEREMY JONES:

Changing tack now and there’s an overhaul coming to Australia’s environmental laws. The current ones just aren’t reflecting the demands of the growing population. So, what could be the impact on central Queensland? Seeing as the state government has just released its energy plan extending the life of the Callide Power Station and supporting coal production, Shadow Minister for the Environment Angie Bell has been part of the negotiations with her Labor counterpart, Murray Watt, and the Shadow Minister is in Central Queensland for the next couple of days. Thanks for your time this morning. What changes are coming in the overhaul of the environmental laws?

ANGIE BELL:

Great to be with you, Jeremy, and your listeners here in Central Queensland. I’m here today in Rockhampton with Michelle Landry and we’re meeting with some stakeholders around Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act reforms, which you just outlined. I have met with the Minister, as you said, three times now, and we’ve been talking about various sticking points. And I’m here in Central Queensland to listen to stakeholders, to industry, to those from environmental conservation outlets as well, to talk about what those reforms mean for you here in the regions, particularly in Central Queensland.

JEREMY JONES:

And you’ve critical of the previous Minister’s consultation process last time. Why is consultation important and who are you meeting with?

ANGIE BELL:

So, consultation, of course, is so very important, so that good people of the region, such as yourselves, have a voice through me as the Shadow Minister and your concerns are heard. Because I have met with the Minister, last time we met, we talked about regional planning and decision-making also staying with the Minister as opposed to a new EPA that the Prime Minister has promised. It’s important to know what the impact would be on go zones and no-go zones that the Minister talking about, particularly those go zones where we’re looking at land rights and the rollout of renewable energy as well, intermittent energy, that is wind farms essentially and solar farms.

And so, I’m listening to regional Queenslanders today with Michelle Landry, and we’re making sure that your voice is heard. We’re also going to be visiting Rocky State School, as I’m the Shadow Minister for Youth as well, and listening to the concerns of young people. I’m really looking forward to saying hello to those at Rocky State School, to chat about their concerns as well for their future, but meeting with stakeholders such as Australian Coral and Capricornia Conservation Council. A great trip today.

JEREMY JONES:

Yeah, it’s exciting that you’re going to be meeting with the students. We might ask what you think their concerns might be in a moment too. But you mentioned there as well that you want the final say on projects to rest with the minister rather than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Why? And has that come up with discussions with the Minister?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, certainly this is about faster approvals, more certainty for industry and jobs, but also protecting our environment. And if we have an EPA that’s duplicating those processes, then that is not going to make things easier for faster approvals when it comes to industry, when it comes to housing, et cetera. We want to make sure that the government doesn’t come up with further red tape and more duplication by simply having an EPA. And moving the departmental responsibilities across to an EPA won’t actually change and make it easier.

So, we want to hold the government to account, have a look at the details when they introduce the legislation into the parliament, and then we’ll go through our usual party processes, which is normal for the opposition to do. And look at those details, because the devil is always in the details with this government. It’s all well and good to have these consultations along the way, but we need to make sure that this is not going to adversely impact regional Australians.

JEREMY JONES:

You’re hearing from Angie Bell, Shadow Minister for the Environment and for Youth, who’s in CQ this week. And CQ plays a big role in energy production and, of course, mining. How do you see regional communities like CQ fitting into the law reforms?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, certainly this is about approvals for jobs and industry, for mining, for projects as well, to make sure that this process that, applicants or proponents, as we call them, have to go through is easier. And so, the quick go and no-go zones might work, but then there might be some trip hazards in there as well that the Minister puts in the legislation. We want to make sure that we look at all the detail, that we hear from the stakeholders as well, so that we have a good understanding in the Coalition of how you feel here in Central Queensland about these reforms.

JEREMY JONES:

And I’m interested to hear about your school visit today as well. And I guess young people have a lot to talk about, especially with the social media ban coming up. We’ve been chatting about that on the show this morning. Are the students quite forthright in their opinions about the ban? What are you hearing?

ANGIE BELL:

Absolutely. Look, the next generation are very savvy. And I want to give a big shoutout to all those in Rockhampton today and in Central Queensland, across all of your wonderful schools here. I’m looking forward to spending some time at Rocky State School with Michelle Landry and talking to young people about how they feel, certainly on a number of topics. There’ll be wide-ranging discussions, everything from youth mental health, to financial security, to certainly the social media ban.

JEREMY JONES:

It’ll be interesting to hear more. Angie Bell, Shadow Minister for Youth and the Environment, thanks for your time this morning.

ANGIE BELL:

Thanks for having me. Have a good day.

ENDS.