NATIVE vegetation reform is on a Liberal Party-captained ship as it navigates a course through parliament, albeit with a foghorn The Nationals are allowed to sound.
But the Liberals have assured farmers they would be happy with the vessel’s course and Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair would not be made to walk the plank.
Confirmation came this week Environment Minister Mark Speakman would take responsibility for the Coalition’s landmark Biodiversity Bill when it arrives in parliament early next year.
A spokesman for Mr Speakman said the minister would be assisted by fellow Liberal and Planning Minister Rob Stokes when the native veg bills are debated in parliament.
As cluster minister overseeing Planning, Environment, Heritage and Local Government Mr Stokes would handle any changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
Mr Blair, a member of Industry, Resources and Energy Minister Anthony Roberts’ cluster, will oversee amendments to the Local Land Services Act.
Native vegetation reform was a key election promise for the NSW Nationals and the spine of the party’s March 2015 memorandum of understanding with NSW Farmers.
The Bill straddles three portfolios and is ultimately controlled by the Liberals, through Mr Speakman.
However, Mr Speakman’s office said the Coalition was committed to implementing all 43 recommendations from the December 2014 Independent Biodiversity Legislation Review Panel report.
Sydney University lecturer Dr Stewart Jackson, a specialist in Department of Government and Australian politics, said passage of the bill was firmly in Mr Speakman’s hands.
Dr Jackson said this dynamic, along with the promise to implement the review panel recommendations, was likely to be part of Coalition negotiations before the March election.
“It will come back to the original discussions held between Troy Grant and Mike Baird,” Dr Jackson said.
“They would have agreed to do this in a particular way.”
“The new act is a Biodiversity
and Conservation Act – not an Agricultural Planning Act.
“Will Niall Blair have much say in it? I don’t think he’ll be locked out – but (ultimate responsibility) does fall logically to Mr Speakman as the Environment Minister.”
Dr Jackson said the true test of the bill would come during crossbench negotiations in the Upper House.
“That will be the real sticking point. There will have to be some negotiations there – with the Shooters and Fishers and Christian Democrats – and that’s when Mr Speakman will be tested.”
Last month the government delayed the draft legislation until 2016 after promising it would be ready by November at the latest.
Deputy Premier Troy Grant blamed NSW Farmers for the hold-up and offered no firm date for the bill’s introduction.
This week the government said consultation with key stakeholders, including NSW Farmers, was ongoing and a draft bill would be released for eight weeks’ public consultation as soon as possible in early 2016.
A spokesman said the Coalition was committed to starting the new arrangements by the end of next year.