Government hopes concessions will entice enough senators to pass the long-awaited laws. Follow today’s news live
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‘No doubt’ environment laws will pass this week, says Watt
Continuing his media rounds this morning, Murray Watt says he’s feeling confident that a deal is “very close” with either the Coalition or the Greens.
I’m in under no doubt that we will pass these laws this week. It’s really a matter of whether it’s with the Coalition or the Greens.
I’ve always said that I’m a realist. I am a senator, I work in the Senate, I understand that you’ve got to make changes to bills to get them through … I am prepared to compromise a little bit more on either side to get this through as long as we don’t get rid of those core principles.
We’re not going to be ending native forestry altogether and we’re not going to be getting rid of regional forest agreements under which native forestry occurs, but we are open to increasing the environmental standards expected of native forestry, and that’s one of the things that Graeme Samuel recommended.
Over the five years that have just concluded, registered not-for-profits have suffered 12% losses. That’s unsustainable. And what we’re now seeing is a number of not-for-profit organisations have chosen to exit. Others are on the precipice and the National Disability Insurance Agency has put the government in a really awkward position. The reason for these losses is price. The NDIA is running a flawed pricing system.
It’s a train wreck. This, for those of us who were involved in setting up the scheme are horrified with what’s happening.
