The environment minister would be able to approve projects at odds with nature laws if it was deemed in the “national interest” under the Albanese government’s planned overhaul of the environmental protection regime.

The proposed new provision was revealed in extracts of the legislation that were circulated to stakeholders on Monday, before its introduction to federal parliament later this week.

The Coalition and the Greens have resisted Labor’s pressure to wave the proposal through, setting up a political fight over nature in the final sitting weeks of the year. Coalition and Greens scolded for opposing new nature laws by author of key environment report Read more

Under new discretionary powers, the minister would be able to green-light a development that was potentially in breach

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