Katy Gallagher says EPA deal with Greens could be revised next year despite Anthony Albanese’s intervention

A senior Labor minister insists the Government’s promised environment protection agency is still on the cards for next year despite Anthony Albanese intervening to scuttle a deal that would have allowed it to pass this week.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said Mr Albanese was still committed to laws to establish the nature watchdog and wanted to revisit them when Federal Parliament is due back in February.

Senator Gallagher confirmed Labor was “close” to accepting a deal with the Greens but needed more time to consider the minor party’s proposed amendments, rather than rushing it through alongside dozens of other bills on Parliament’s final sitting day of the year.

The Nightly on Wednesday reported Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek agreed a deal with the Greens and independent David Pocock before Mr Albanese stepped in prevent it going ahead.

The scuttled deal would have involved extra investment for research to combat invasive species and a legislated timeline for the promised suite of national environmental standards, according to multiple sources briefed on negotiations.

The Prime Minister’s intervention followed lobbying from WA Premier Roger Cook and mining and business groups that feared the EPA could devastate the State’s economy.

Senator Gallagher, who was part of private meetings this week where the EPA bill was discussed, played down suggestions Mr Albanese overruled Mr Plibersek after the WA lobbying onslaught.

“I was in meetings which we discussed nature positive, and I agree we were close, but there was some further work that we wanted done,” Senator Gallagher told ABC’s RN Breakfast.

While miners are breathing a sign of relief, grassroots Labor members are furious after the Government passed up the chance to deliver a key 2022 election promise.

“This was a chance to show strength and conviction. We know these are things the electorate are looking for from us. And we faltered,” Felicity Wade, the co-convenor of Labor’s grassroots environmental action group (LEAN) said.