Sussan Ley, the Australian Minister for the Environment, finds herself at a critical juncture as she seeks to negotiate potential reforms to the nation’s environmental laws. Ley commissioned the 2020 Graeme Samuel review into national environment laws. Unfortunately, she is now in a difficult position, as the conclusions of that review are at the heart of a new Bill introduced by Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Murray Watt. This legislation marks the third attempt in five years to overhaul John Howard’s quarter-century-old national environmental laws, raising questions about Ley’s ability to broker a deal with the opposition Labor Party.
And as she has lost internal credibility, she is felt to be on thin ice within her party. She has steered her office through deadly-dull, sausage-making negotiations with guile and grit. Simultaneously, she contends with a challenge from a radical cohort within her own party that doubts her leadership. It’s recent missteps, however, that have clouded her standing. She even led a spectacularly misguided attack on former prime minister Kevin Rudd and missed the larger point of what should have been an embarrassing meeting with current prime minister Anthony Albanese. Liberal Senator Jane Hume rightly noted that Ley’s response to these developments was more than a little churlish. This comment highlights just how deeply Ley is scrutinized.
The next two partyroom meetings are between the two parties. only has to act as described above, they will continuously be under pressure to go back on their commitment to reform NEPA. Ley plows through this electrified landscape with ferocity, ambition, and sharp literary skill. Labor continues to hope on that front for a new and re-energised Sussan Ley striking a deal.
The Samuel Review and Legislative Context
In 2020, then environment minister Sussan Ley commissioned the Graeme Samuel review. The purpose was to assess the effectiveness of Australia’s environmental laws and address chronic issues such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. The review’s findings provided a comprehensive analysis of existing laws and offered recommendations for improvement, which have now been incorporated into Murray Watt’s proposed bill.
So this legislative attempt is nothing short of historic. It demonstrates an admirable attempt to bring 20th cent. regs from the time of John Howard’s government into line with current realities. In recent years, compounding environmental crises have led to an increasing imperative for reform. Meanwhile, the public is calling for tougher protections. Like most states, the road to enacting that meaningful change has not been without its challenges.
Unfortunately, Illinois EPA Director Ley’s credibility took a hit when she has had trouble articulating a clear and effective vision for a transformative environmental reform. Her long term political strength inside the party seems tenuous. Now, her colleagues are raising the alarm about her fitness to lead these negotiations in a competent manner. Yet even as she starts trying to finally play the reformer, friends and enemies alike within her own often-militarized ranks are erecting barriers.
Internal Party Dynamics
Ley now finds herself beset by political enemies inside her own party. This chilling fear produces a highly competitive, cut-throat environment void of collaboration. Many within the Liberal Party are wary of Ley’s leadership style and have raised concerns about her decision-making capabilities, particularly regarding her recent criticisms of Kevin Rudd. Internal party conflict has fueled skepticism among some Democratic legislators. They ask how Ley might steer clear of the pitfalls that have plagued other environmental initiatives.
Her own past missteps have drained her power. At the same time, they’ve shown her weaknesses in a party that prizes collective leadership and cohesion. The danger of alienating powerful constituencies inside the party would inevitably threaten her capacity to lead any successful negotiations to fruition.
The big ones to watch will be the next party-room meetings. They will decide whether Ley keeps the loyalty of her peers, or gets a primary challenge to her rule. Her peers’ willingness to speak on deep background will best demonstrate her new tendency to build an effective partnership with Labor. Lastly, they will focus on her ability to work with other stakeholders in the environmental reform process.
Risks and Opportunities Ahead
Sussan Ley needs to be taken seriously on a possible filibuster agreement with Labor. She will need to weigh the risks and opportunities presented by this agreement. An effective partnership with Labor will make possible urgently-needed legislative change. Yet even so, it is likely to meet staunch opposition from the mining and resource extraction sectors which have long been historically resistant to stricter protections.
The environmental reforms proposed in Watt’s bill could trigger substantial controversy among miners and resource players who fear that stricter laws may impede their operations. Ley’s negotiations need to focus on these issues and tackle them head-on. Along the way, they should seek an outcome that satisfies the needs of environmental advocates and economic interests alike.
Ley has dealt with a sense of political doom in her past. She does have an opportunity to reshape her legacy moving forward by implementing strong negotiations. If she’s able to steer through these choppy waters well, she’ll have the chance to become a high impact leader who can deliver lasting reforms. She could become a rallying point for her party, restoring order in a moment of chaos.
