NADIA MITSOPOLOUS: Well, as you've been hearing in the news, there's a lot of opposition to the Federal Government's attempt to rewrite environment laws, and it's coming from both sides. Now, this is the third time the government's tried to fix this. It's now up to the Environment Minister, Murray Watt, to get them through Parliament, and that is looking highly unlikely. Now, there will be no climate trigger which would have blocked coal and gas projects. That's angered environmentalists, while the business lobby and industry group say regulations are too slow, they're too complex, and they're too confusing. So, let's go to Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King, fresh back from the United States. Good morning. And you're probably tired. Thanks for your time.

MADELEINE KING: Well, Nadia, hi. And it's great to be home. It's a long trip there and a very long trip back, but a very rewarding visit to the White House.

NADIA MITSOPOLOUS: Now, I'm conscious you've got a meeting to get into, so I'll get into it. But you are arguing this morning, Minister, that these laws are crucial for the $13 billion critical minerals deal that you've just struck with the US. Can you explain why?

MADELEINE KING: Well, I mean, it's one additional reason. There are many reasons that reforms to the EPBC Act are important. Primarily, of course, to have better protections for the environment, to meet important environmental benchmarks and community expectations around protection of the environment. And that's really a primary focus. We want it to work for industry as well as the environment. The additional reason is to make sure we can have housing projects go forward in a more productive manner. But also, we do want these critical minerals and rare earth projects to move forward quickly, but within those standards. Like, this is not about trying to shortcut anything. It's just about making it work better. And that the Opposition don't want to do that, and they want to keep this inefficient system that they've helped, you know, keep on rolling along, I find ridiculous. I find it working against the national interest. And all reports are that they've made a decision really quickly after the briefing from the Minister for the Environment and not really taken the time to consider how they might work with the government on this.

NADIA MITSOPOLOUS: But industry groups and mining groups don't like it either. They're saying it's too complex, it's too slow and too confusing, and it won't improve those approval times.

MADELEINE KING: Well, there's no doubt any piece of legislation that the government puts forward is likely to not make everybody happy. So, Senator Watt has found a pathway where we have everyone a little bit unhappy on all sides. It probably means we're right smack bang in the middle where we need to be. But I'm going to say, you know, no amendments have come forward from anyone. There's a lot of work to do. Senator Watt is determined to get this right, as am I, as is the whole Albanese Labor Government. And so, you know, we'll keep talking to all sides on this. I talk with the industry a lot, I talk with the community a lot around these environmental approvals and that work will keep on going.

NADIA MITSOPOLOUS: You won't consider or reconsider a climate trigger that could have potentially blocked coal or gas projects because that's not there anymore. And that's what the green groups don't like.

MADELEINE KING: Well, we deal with how emissions are reduced and our response to climate change through the safeguard mechanism. And that was introduced I think about three years ago after we first came into government. So, we've acted really very quickly, and no government has done more to progress a net zero emissions policy than the Albanese Labor Government. So, we deal with the emissions of industry through the safeguard mechanism. We'll deal with environmental protection through the EPBC Act. And it's important that there's that clear distinction.

NADIA MITSOPOLOUS: How will you measure an unacceptable impact? I mean, that's the terminology being used now, rather, you know, now that the climate triggers. So, how will you measure unacceptable impact on the environment that would trigger an immediate refusal of a project?

MADELEINE KING: Well, that's going to be a matter where the government is working through, and I've seen the reports about that creating uncertainty. But I mean that's the thing with legislation, and it’s new legislation. There is always going to be different interpretations of it. We are very clear that we are going to keep consulting with industry, with environmental groups, with anyone who wants to be a part of this to make sure we have a mutual understanding of what that means.

NADIA MITSOPOLOUS: Madeleine King, the Federal Resources Minister, is my guest this morning. 1300-TRIPLE-2720 is the number. I've got Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Environment spokesperson, standing by. She's listening at the moment. So, it just seems no one's happy with this. This goes back into the Parliament next week. What compromise will be needed to get it? I mean, what are you willing to give on?

MADELEINE KING: Well, I'm not going to go into that on ABC Perth. But it really is the Environment Minister's job, so I'm going to leave it to him. But I think what and Sarah Hanson-Young as she's listening, and Sussan Ley as well, they need to understand that this has been going on for a very long time. And we have said consistently the environmental regulations, as they stand, don’t work for the environment, they don't work for industry. The reforms Senator Watt has put forward, and our government has put forward move this along in a very progressive way, and that's really important. So, you know, if the Greens and the Coalition want to be naysayers and not work constructively with government, not work constructively for the environment, not work constructively with the resources industry and other industries like the housing industry, that is a matter for them. But they will be working together against the national interest, against the environment.

NADIA MITSOPOLOUS: I'll leave it there. Madeleine King, I know you've got a meeting to get to. Thank you for your time.

MADELEINE KING: Appreciate that, Nadia. Have a good weekend.

NADIA MITSOPOLOUS: Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King there.