Labor MP Patrick Gorman defends Tanya Plibersek campaign launch decision despite Nature Positive backlash

Labor MP Patrick Gorman has defended the decision to allow Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to help him launch his campaign in WA despite controversy surrounding the Nature Positive laws. The Member for Perth said it was an honour to have his “friend and colleague” kick off his re-election bid and shrugged off suggestions it was a risky choice. “The risk to Western Australia is a Dutton Liberal government,” he said. “He is a risk to our GST and our critical minerals investments. “Peter Dutton will close Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, sack 1700 public servants in WA and waste billions of dollars on Collie nuclear.” Ms Plibersek copped the ire of the WA Government and the mining industry over her plans to overhaul current legislation and create a national environmental protection authority that would implement environmental standards Australia-wide. A deal was reportedly made with crossbenchers late last year, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shelved plans in February following the backlash in WA. Premier Roger Cook had labelled the legislation as a “threat to WA jobs” in February, just over a month before he was re-elected. Industry groups had also claimed WA would have been severely affected by the proposed changes. The West Australian revealed last month, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry had warned in a report to the Premier’s office that the new laws could tangle renewable energy projects in red tape, and send electricity and residential land costs skyrocketing.