---
title: Federal government makes late changes to soften controversial gas approvals law
description: The federal government has softened controversial changes that opponents fear could lead to fast-tracked gas approvals, as it tries to negotiate new ministerial powers through the parliament. Federal parliament is this week considering a bill that seeks to make a tweak which would allow the resources minister to make changes to the rules under which new offshore gas projects are considered.
---
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# Federal government makes late changes to soften controversial gas approvals law
Tuesday, 26 March 2024
The federal government has softened controversial changes that opponents fear could lead to fast-tracked gas approvals, as it tries to negotiate new ministerial powers through the parliament. Federal parliament is this week considering a bill that seeks to make a tweak which would allow the resources minister to make changes to the rules under which new offshore gas projects are considered.
The government argues the change is technical and is required to respond to concerns from the gas industry and others about consultation rules in approving new projects. While it has been tentatively supported by the Coalition, the legislation has prompted a furious response from the Greens and some crossbenchers, who have labelled it a "sneaky" attempt to fast-track new gas approvals.
The new amendments appear to try to address some of those concerns, but critics remain unconvinced.
[**Federal government makes late changes to controversial gas approval laws but crossbench concerns remain**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2024-03-25%2Fgas-law-changes-critics-concern-about-fast-tracked-projects%2F103630080&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=GXrMZ1dbm6YyhIbZcdrykMJQwBk&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)The federal government has softened controversial changes that opponents fear could lead to fast-tracked gas approvals, as it tries to negotiate new ministerial powers through the parliament.
[**Scientists Warn The Price of Food Is Expected to Increase Every Year From Now On**](https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-warn-the-price-of-food-is-expected-to-increase-every-year-from-now-on)
Climate change, and specifically rising temperatures, may cause food prices to increase by 3.2% per year, according to a new study by researchers in Germany. As climate change continues to worsen, this price inflation will mean more and more people around the world don't have a varied and healthy diet, or simply don't have enough food.
[**Moolarben Coal Mine report finds koala colony would be displaced by expansion plans**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2024-03-25%2Fmoolarben-coal-mine-report-negative-impact-koala-population%2F103610866&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=a17KYqfMCEyMQ7v5kkgM6fE6GMM&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)The proposed expansion of a coal mine in the New South Wales Central West would displace and reduce the size of a "critical" koala population, according to the managers of the project.
[**Energy shortage fears prompt minister to pump up new gas projects**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fpolitics%2Ffederal%2Fenergy-shortage-fears-prompt-minister-to-pump-up-new-gas-projects-20240322-p5fehs.html&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=WxoI7-s93BibKUwX1bp9TlnCDVI&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5zbWguY29tLmF1In0.dLrErlrnr5ygrw6r9BmLnD1I0aNYVH93_YJo5EofLTHngNTsac5xMwvusd5MeI2-ZEAd-GcYmYdqdbniemYuyQ)Resources Minister Madeleine King says new gas projects can help plug shortfalls in NSW and Victoria after a warning the states face supply deficits sooner than first thought.
[**Swift parrots still in peril, despite revised numbers of surviving birds due to new counting method**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2024-03-25%2Fcritically-endangered-swift-parrot-improved-population-counting%2F103627232&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=WDXGnjS-c6SRhJWILyY8aqOtgNA&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)While a new method of counting has resulted in the estimates of an endangered bird species being revised upwards, researchers say it in no way means the threat of extinction has lessened for the swift parrot.
[**Land-use harmony in renewables rollout at the centre of new Queensland roadmap**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/26/land-use-harmony-in-renewables-rollout-at-the-centre-of-new-queensland-roadmap)The Queensland government is launching a plan to use the gas commission and local consultation bodies to help maintain land-use harmony during the state’s $1bn renewables build-out.
[**Sludge creates ‘dead zone’ in idyllic Moreton Bay, study finds**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Ftechnology%2Fenvironment%2Fsludge-creates-dead-zone-in-idyllic-moreton-bay-study-finds%2Fnews-story%2F4c29abc377b366427c2d0c1aa9d33965&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=8esbf8FnZVofJkl6RNdPguP9e1o&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdSJ9._9eIk96tIPNTjXwzMngn8CFnjBniEWEG71sNjH2GiqhhnqHvoch0hnhg2EgYcYnFoZnfeMpFAgXVacvMtxi1Pg)A new study has found sludge being washed into Queensland’s Moreton Bay is contaminating its sand and creating a “dead zone” in the idyllic coastal area. Scientists have compared vast amounts of mud flowing into a water body famous for its animal life as being like “180 years of sewage discharge”.
[gas](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/gas), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [fossil fuel](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/fossil-fuel), [Biodiversity](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/biodiversity), [forests](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/forests)
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