Critics Urge PM Albanese to Address Concerns in Crucial Minerals Agreement, Highlighting Unheard Voices

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They’re inviting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to visit the communities that they say will bear the brunt of the proposed mineral mining boom’s impacts.

The Victorian Farmers Federation letter (VFF), seen by SBS News, expresses “deep concern” that in a rush for critical minerals, community concerns will not be addressed.

“Farmers in this region are facing significant uncertainty regarding the future of their land, water, security, and long-term agricultural viability,” VFF president Brett Hosking wrote to Albanese on Monday morning.

Recent developments have heightened concerns regarding environmental policies, particularly after a significant agreement on critical minerals was signed with the United States.

While last week’s US$300 million ($462 million) in equity commitments focused on projects in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the government granted Astron Corporation’s Donald Rare Earth and Minerals Sands “major project status” the following day.

Hosking said farmers in and around Donald, about 280km north-west of Melbourne, are worried that “commitments to fast-track projects will further erode their capacity to have a say on the future of their communities”.

“A visit from you would send a strong signal that the federal government is listening to rural Australians, especially at a time when many feel their voices are not being heard,” he wrote.

Astron says it acknowledges community concerns and continues to engage with locals. The company says the major project status is largely an acknowledgement of the project’s strategic significance, with most major approvals already in place.

The plea came hours before the government revealed that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) reforms, to be tabled in parliament on Thursday, would include an exemption to push through projects deemed in the “national interest”.

A preliminary draft reveals that Environment Minister Murray Watt could potentially have the authority to make decisions that deviate from established national environmental standards. This would be permissible if it can be clearly demonstrated to be in the public interest, supported by a detailed explanation.

While Labor argues this will improve environmental outcomes, farmers said last week the “fast tracking” of projects could impact food production and have broader impacts on surrounding communities.

Slow approval times for projects, including the duplication of processes across state and federal governments, have been partially blamed for holding up renewable energy projects as well as the mining of minerals that will allow Australia to compete with China.

There is a provision for a 28-day period during which the minister’s decision can be contested. Notably, any ongoing work is allowed to proceed during this time frame.

Critics argue that instead of addressing existing loopholes, the current government’s proposal appears to introduce more exceptions and expedite processes for coal and gas projects.

Greens leader Larissa Waters says the party is still open to negotiations with Labor as long as the reforms “work for nature” and “don’t see coal and gas and logging fast-tracked unabated”.

“They’re [the laws] already riddled with loopholes,” she said.

Greens leader Larissa Waters has voiced strong criticism against Labor, accusing them of crafting reforms that create additional “loopholes” for coal and gas initiatives within environmental protection laws. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Greens leader Larissa Waters has accused Labor of creating “loopholes” for coal and gas projects in the reforms to environmental law protections. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Waters says drafts of the legislation are “written for big business”, predicting that Labor will make a deal with the Coalition instead.

The Business Council of Australia urged the Opposition to pass the bill in full in the Senate, arguing it would offer more certainty for business, after Opposition leader Sussan Ley called on the environmental protections to be split into two sections.

Despite Watt labelling the proposition “mad” on Monday, Opposition environment spokesperson Angie Bell doubled down in her calls to have it split.

“We want to see the Bill split so we can streamline approvals, and we can improve environmental protections separately,” she told ABC radio on Tuesday morning.

“And what we’ve seen from the Government is a flat refusal immediately. And that’s what we kind of expected because it seems that it’s their way or the highway.”