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Legislative Assembly
 
Environment Protection Bill 2017

09 August 2017
Second reading
FRANK McGUIRE  (ALP)

 


Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) — Record funding for the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) and tough new laws are features of the Victorian government's strategy to protect people's health and the environment. This piece of legislation, the Environment Protection Bill 2017, is another key part of this strategy that the government is going to be rolling out. I think this is a critical part of the legislative reforms and the architecture for providing better protection.

The situation is that a range of different issues need to be addressed, and they are being addressed by this piece of legislation. We can see it from recent events in my electorate of Broadmeadows at SKM Recycling's facility in Coolaroo. The irony is that the EPA officials were due that day to do an inspection. I am delighted that they will be given greater powers for scrutiny, accountability and compliance. We see that this is now not just an issue for Victoria but a national issue that has come to prominence in the media as well. This legislation could not be more timely and relevant, and what is happening —

The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! The time has come for me to interrupt business under sessional orders for questions without notice and ministers statements. The member for Broadmeadows will have the call when the bill is next before the house.

Business interrupted under sessional orders.