Labor strikes deal with Greens to pass long-awaited overhaul of nature protection laws

The deal to re-write the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act marks an end to a five-year struggle to fix the broken systemFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor has struck a deal with the Greens to overhaul federal environmental protection laws on parliament’s final sitting day of the year, ending a five-year struggle to deliver on Graeme Samuel’s blueprint to fix the broken system.The Greens have agreed to support Labor’s re-write of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act after securing further concessions from the government amid tense and prolonged negotiations. The deal will sideline Sussan Ley’s Coalition, which refused to yield on their demands for more business-friendly concessions in exchange for supporting the legislation. Continue reading...