Warren Pearce: Albanese needs to kill off Nature Positive legislation and sit down for genuine consultation

The Prime Minister wants the controversial Nature Positive legislation to be good for the environment and good for business.

To show that he stands for business, jobs and strengthening the economy.

It’s time he stops talking about it and actually does it.

The problem is that there is nothing in this legislation that is good for business. Worse, still, it entrenches duplication in the environmental approvals processes between State and Federal Governments, which will add more time and costs to all projects.

Parts of the resources industry were singing the PM’s praises recently when he stepped in to scrap a deal with the Greens on Nature Positive.

But he didn’t definitively kill it.

In doing so he missed a huge opportunity.

Instead of letting go of this flawed legislation, and undertaking genuine consultation with industry and the community, the PM simply delayed discussion and further horse trading with the Senate crossbench into the new year.

He had an opportunity to send a clear message.

A message that he is pro-business.

A message of support to the mining industry and to Western Australia.

So far, he has failed to do so.

It seems his Government has spent more time consulting the crossbench on this legislation in the last sitting weeks of the Federal Parliament, than they did consulting industry all year.

No doubt striking the right balance between industry growth and environmental protection is a delicate dance, and nobody is advocating for a reduction in environmental protections, certainly not the mining industry.

But what WA businesses and the people of WA want to see is some common sense prevail.

It would be something, if the PM said we’re going to strengthen environmental protections and that will come at a cost to industry, but we are also going to reduce your overall time and cost to companies by removing duplication, and creating a much more efficient system.

This would save money and provide investment certainty.

But that’s not what’s on offer. Just more cost, more time, and more delays. None of which is good for business or for Western Australia.

Until the PM categorically puts this issue to bed, it’s a dark shadow that looms over industry and our economy.

So what’s more important?

The resources industry that is the backbone of the Australian economy, an economy that only days ago the Treasurer said he “anticipated for historically slow growth.”

Or currying electoral favour with the wealthy inner-city voters of Melbourne and Sydney, who don’t recognise how much of their prosperity has been built by the work of the mining industry.

The choice is pretty simple.

So why doesn’t the Prime Minister end the speculation, the commentary, and the uncertainty, by committing one way or another.

If the PM wants legislation that is good for the environment and good for business, then sit down with those most impacted.

Sit down with the mining and exploration industry, sit down with the Western Australian Government and any other jurisdictions where the threat of duplication, cost blowouts and time delays is a real and present danger.

Have constructive conversations, instead of secret backroom briefings and deals.

Only then will there be legislation that is good for business and supports a Future Made in Australia.

Warren Pearce is Chief Executive of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies