STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms COFFEY (Griffith) (13:40): Tomorrow, 1 July, Australia's first independent National Environmental Protection Agency will begin its work. It marks a brand new chapter for the protection of Australia's natural environment. For the first time in our nation's history, Australia will have an independent national regulator with the power, focus and responsibility to uphold our environmental laws.

That is a proud achievement of this Albanese Labor government. In just over six months, the National EPA has gone from a long held ambition to a working reality. For decades, Australians have called for stronger environmental protection.

They have asked for clearer rules, better decisions and a regulator strong enough to make sure that our rules are followed. They have asked for a system where the environment has a real voice. Tomorrow, that begins.

I want to thank the environmental groups, legal experts, scientists, First Nations people, community advocates and local volunteers who helped make this happen. In my community of Griffith, this is something people have been asking for for many years because people deeply care about the environment around us. I joined with my community to campaign for stronger environmental laws and our first national EPA.

Too much of what we love is under pressure: our threatened species, rivers, reefs, forests, wetlands and oceans. The National EPA will help people understand Australia's environmental laws and it will make sure those laws are respected. Labor has always understood this responsibility.

Tomorrow will be a proud day for our government, but more importantly it will mark the beginning of a new era for Australia's environment.