Allegra Spender outlines what she 'wants to see' from environmental rules

Independent MP Allegra Spender has given her thoughts after Environmental Minister Tanya Plibersek vetoed an offshore wind farm for the Victorian Port of Hastings due to climate concerns on surrounding wetlands. “Every single project whether it is a renewable energy project or another mining project needs to look at its environmental impact as well as the broader impact on the economy and climate,” Ms Spender told Sky News Australia. “I think it is acceptable – if there is wetlands and it was going to provide an unacceptable impact on the wetlands then it is appropriate that the Environmental Minister makes that decision. “But what I want to see out of the environmental rules at the same time is to make sure we are not looking at those same environmental laws and saying, ‘you know what, keep on approving coal mines, keep on approving gas mines. “We know that climate change has a huge impact on the environment.”