---
title: Political stoush erupting over Australia’s environment laws
description: "A political stoush is erupting over a tweak to Australia's environment laws, with the federal government saying it is \"clarifying\" the approvals process for new offshore gas projects."
---
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The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Political stoush erupting over Australia’s environment laws
Thursday, 21 March 2024
A political stoush is erupting over a tweak to Australia's environment laws, with the federal government saying it is "clarifying" the approvals process for new offshore gas projects. But the Greens, some independent MPs and environmental groups have condemned the proposed changes, arguing it is a means of fast-tracking approvals for new gas projects.
The annual State of the Climate report by the UN weather and climate agency has confirmed that global temperatures "smashed" heat records last year, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss. Whilst warning that 2024 is likely to be even hotter, it offers a glimmer of hope - surging renewable energy generation which last year increased by nearly 50 percent from 2022.
And in a conservation victory just south of Sydney, researchers have found proof that the 10 platypuses released into Australia’s oldest national park last May are not only surviving, but also breeding. Together with their descendants, they have colonised a large section of both the Hacking River and Kangaroo Creek.
**Top stories:**
[Political fight brewing over changing approvals process for new gas projects](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2024-03-20%2Fpolitical-fight-brewing-over-offshore-gas-projects%2F103607470&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=p9xs3ACPzCRAAHLOc5dLpBYoXws&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
The current legislation has set off a storm of opposition both inside and outside federal parliament, with accusations the government is trying to re-shape the rules to help smooth the approvals journey for new gas projects.
[UN warns planet 'on the brink' after warmest decade on record](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fbreaking-news%2Fun-warns-planet-on-the-brink-after-warmest-decade-on-record%2Fnews-story%2F66e248a540cc3e812908e61e521b3fc0&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=An8-TDdTC5v7HT8i7PyiW1Lfsew&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdSJ9._9eIk96tIPNTjXwzMngn8CFnjBniEWEG71sNjH2GiqhhnqHvoch0hnhg2EgYcYnFoZnfeMpFAgXVacvMtxi1Pg)
The annual State of the Climate report by the UN weather and climate agency confirmed preliminary data showing 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded - and warns that 2024 is likely to be even hotter.
[‘Words can’t describe’: Puggle magic in Royal National Park after 50 years](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fenvironment%2Fconservation%2Fwords-can-t-describe-puggle-magic-in-royal-national-park-after-50-years-20240319-p5fdih.html&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=jYQyi-xiEX0Jdm2QpECc8U_puUQ&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5zbWguY29tLmF1In0.dLrErlrnr5ygrw6r9BmLnD1I0aNYVH93_YJo5EofLTHngNTsac5xMwvusd5MeI2-ZEAd-GcYmYdqdbniemYuyQ)
Ten platypuses were released into Australia’s oldest national park, just south of Sydney, last May, in the first project of its kind in NSW. Last weekend the team found proof the platypuses are not only surviving in Royal National Park, but also breeding.
[Jabiluka uranium mine lease sparks tension with Kakadu’s traditional owners](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fcompanies%2Fjabiluka-uranium-mine-lease-sparks-tension-with-kakadu-s-traditional-owners-20240320-p5fe0g.html&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=lAY2vc9mgGwI0bDgZ1wuYPkWtaY&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5zbWguY29tLmF1In0.dLrErlrnr5ygrw6r9BmLnD1I0aNYVH93_YJo5EofLTHngNTsac5xMwvusd5MeI2-ZEAd-GcYmYdqdbniemYuyQ)
A uranium miner backed by Rio Tinto has applied for a 10-year extension to its mining lease over the famous Jabiluka deposit in the Northern Territory, reigniting tensions with the land’s traditional owners.
[First Nations green hydrogen project wins federal grant](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnitv%2Farticle%2Ffirst-nations-green-hydrogen-project-wins-federal-grant%2F1swuj41og&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=wyy81MhSWjZsxRbqWU07CSBDFSU&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5zYnMuY29tLmF1In0.-HdjYjAJhCRb2qk3QylcbtoulfxN5wOfqfnpSX_YMCXkgEGwudGd9JgNTKjJlz7f0oZHFWS5EqZHFaON6uCkHw)
A new $1.7 million grant will support the East Kimberley Clean Energy project which is a First Nations-led clean energy, green hydrogen and green ammonia export project.
[Cane toad found on Mornington Island sparks biosecurity crackdown to protect wildlife](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2024-03-20%2Fcane-toad-found-on-mornington-island-biosecurity-concerns%2F103603832&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=i2SCwcwiff9Op31Tb3BAypVrkLU&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
Local rangers are implementing stricter biosecurity measures to protect Mornington Island’s native wildlife after a juvenile cane toad made its way from mainland Queensland to the island which is free of the toxic species.
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