Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025, National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025, Environment Information Australia Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025

Mr CALDWELL (Fadden—Opposition Whip) (21:54): Thank you, Speaker. An honourable member: Excellent timing! Mr CALDWELL: Timing is one of the things that I have become known for over the years, and it appears that there will now be evidence of that for years to come in the visual record of this speech and— Mr Wallace: And in Hansard.

Mr CALDWELL: perhaps in Hansard. I thank my friends behind me for giving me the opportunity to stand and contribute in relation to this particular matter, because the environmental protection— The SPEAKER: Order! The Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister?

Mr Gorman: On relevance, he's been on his feet for 45 seconds and has been discussing his entry into the video record. He hasn't mentioned the bill or the matter of the bill. The SPEAKER: I'm sure the member is going to get to the bill very shortly.

He's just been on his feet for a minute, so he's got 15 minutes. Mr CALDWELL: Thank you, Speaker, and I thank my friend opposite for the encouragement to get back to the bills. Of course, the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and related bills are something that the Labor government has embarked on in an effort to try and create some sort of smokescreen of a solution in search of a problem.

We all know on this side of the House that we, as a coalition, value the environment to the highest extent, and we acknowledge that perhaps there are improvements that could be made to the legislative framework in relation to environmental assessments. But, sadly, what has been offered by this government does not strike the right balance. It does not achieve a circumstance where the public can, with confidence, say that environmental assessments will be undertaken in a timely fashion and deliver an outcome with some degree of certainty for those who are making the applications.

In fact, quite to the contrary, I believe this bill will lead to delays in decisions and, ultimately, a lack of investment certainty and frameworks that will be of considerable concern to some of the most valuable segments of our important economy. Many of the Labor speakers have mentioned the balance that's being struck. They've talked about how there is a need to protect the environment and balance that against business certainty and business conditions.

But we know that, in reality, this legislation in its current form provides a serious compromise to the delivery in our economy of things like critical minerals, rare earths and the mining sector generally. This will cause significant concerns for those who are even wanting to invest in small-scale operations, whether it be the local quarry trying to draw out sand or a little bit of rock to produce road base.

Sadly, this legislation causes more trouble than it will ultimately fix. I'm very honoured to have been appointed by the Leader of the Opposition as the shadow assistant minister for housing, and one of the areas that has suffered the most under the current framework and under this current Labor government is housing and development. We wonder why there is a housing crisis in this country and we wonder why this Labor government is completely incapable of providing a solution.

They're not interested in fixing the housing crisis by providing more supply—certainly not anywhere that we might find a tree—because they are not going to be able to provide certainty and timeliness in decision-making. That is of significant concern, not just to the sector— The SPEAKER: Order! The member will conclude.

In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier, the debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. House adjourned at 22 :00