In the media
The Australian
Several teal independents are challenging a longstanding convention that threatens their ability to deliver a maiden parliamentary speech and are prepared to forego the opportunity in order to debate the government’s legislation enacting its 43 per cent climate target.
Under the convention, MPs who engage in parliamentary debate before having delivered a maiden speech sacrifice the chance to deliver it at a later date.
In effect, their first contribution to debate in the chamber would become their maiden speech to parliament.
Ms Tink told The Australian she would forego her first speech in order to contribute to the climate debate if the government refused to negotiate on the four main changes she wanted to make to its legislation.
Other relevant posts
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Canberra Times, 16 April 2024
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The West Australian, 16 April 2024
Merits review rights could give communities a chance to challenge large, destructive projects like Whitehaven Coal's Vickery Extension Project, but currently only apply to an extremely limited number of situations under federal environmental law. This is an opportunity for the federal government to do better, Kylea says.
New Environmental Protection Agency ineffective without stronger laws
SBS News, 16 April 2024
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New high level push to give communities the right to challenge big, environmentally destructive projects
Media release, 16 April 2024
Enshrining communities’ right to challenge the merits of large, environmentally destructive projects in law would drastically improve integrity in decision making, restore the public’s faith in a broken system, and lead to better outcomes for nature, according to a groundbreaking new expert report.
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