TRANSCRIPT – Weekend NewsDay, Sky News

Angie Bell MP

Shadow Minister for the Environment

Shadow Minister for Youth

Federal Member for Moncrieff

TRANSCRIPT

Weekend NewsDay, Sky News

26 October 2025

Subjects: Labor cagey on the remaining environmental law draft; The Coalition supporting balanced EPBC reform; Supporting local jobs, small business and Australian manufacturing.

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

JAYNIE SEAL:

We’ve heard the existing laws are fundamentally broken. What can you say about this?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, certainly, our environmental laws are well overdue for reform. Back 25 years ago, when Robert Hill actually introduced them into the parliament, he said they would only be fit for ten years or so, and I will note that it was the Labor Government that failed in the last term to reform our environmental laws. And so, the Prime Minister then handed that over to Murray Watt, his fixer, to try again. And here we are, where we’ve seen Murray Watt take out the words ‘nature positive’ and put in the words ‘net gain’. And also, we haven’t got all the details.

[start excerpt]

MURRAY WATT:

What we’re trying to do through these reforms is deliver a balanced package that actually delivers real improvements for our natural environment and real improvements for business. They say they’re a party of business. We know that business wants these reforms to be put in place to streamline approvals. I cannot believe some of the things that we are hearing from the Coalition.

[finish excerpt]

JAYNIE SEAL:

That was just a short grab, Angie, of Murray Watt on Sunday Agenda this morning. And he also mentioned that they’re establishing the nation’s first ever National Environmental Protection Agency. You mentioned there’s more detail to come. We heard independent MP, Zali Steggall say a couple of days ago that the policy looked a bit shady. More information, by the sounds of it is certainly needed, not just from your party.

ANGIE BELL:

Absolutely, it’s short on detail. We’ve only seen 50 to 70 per cent of the draft legislation, and many stakeholders have come forward, including the Invasive Species Council to say they’re not happy with what is in the legislation. But also, of course, there are industry sectors, mining, resources, who have very grave concerns around this lack of detail in what we’re seeing. I can’t comment on the rest of the legislation because we haven’t seen it yet. The Minister has said that he will introduce this week, and so we will await the final details of it. But the way it is right now, the Minister is saying that it’s balanced. Well, the way we’re looking at it is, it’s not balanced at the moment. And so, we need to have a close look at the rest of the details and how this legislation fits together, because it’s very complex legislation, and there are very many changes.

JAYNIE SEAL:

That’s a good point, because there’s a lot to look at in a short space of time. How much time are you going to have?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, I guess that depends on the process of this legislation and how it goes through the House and how it goes through the Senate. The Minister has said he wants a short Senate Inquiry into this legislation. But I can say to him that the Coalition is here to make sure that we hold this Labor Government to account and to make sure that these environmental law reforms, if they are passed, are balanced and fair and do, of course, advantage our environment, protect our environment. But also, doesn’t give a handbrake on jobs-a red light on jobs, an orange light on productivity and a green light for investment to go offshore, Jaynie.

JAYNIE SEAL:

We are hearing from some people that potentially this favors big businesses. What are your thoughts on that? And also, are you hearing from environmental protection agencies? What are they saying?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, I think you make a good point around environmental protection agencies, and this is a bigger bureaucracy that the government is putting forward on the table. Everyone has a different view about what they want to see out of these reforms, but what we want to see is a balance. We want to see the environment protected, but we also want to see certainty jobs and investment for our mining and resources sectors as well.

JAYNIE SEAL:

Alright, and I did want to ask you as well, the Back Australia campaign has been launched today, and the Prime Minister has pledged to revive local manufacturing. So, the Back Australia campaign – it’s really got to support the growth of local industries. And it sounds like it’s bipartisan. What do you think of this campaign?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, of course, the Coalition supports small and family business, Australian manufacturing and industry here in Australia for jobs, jobs and more jobs. Jaynie, so very important. Here on the Gold Coast, I’ve got over 70,000 small and family businesses. They are the engine room of our economy on the Gold Coast and many other areas around the country. So of course, we’ll get behind it. We’ll buy Australian and we’ll support our small and family businesses as much as we can.

JAYNIE SEAL:

All right, we’ve got Joe Hildebrand to talk more on this after the break, but Angie Bell, Shadow Environment Minister, thank you so much for joining us today.

ANGIE BELL:

See you again soon, Jaynie.

ENDS.