Independent MP Tony Windsor has flagged moves to strengthen the federal government's environmental powers to prevent coal seam gas drilling from adversely affecting local water supplies.
The draft legislation is planned for next Monday and "would broaden the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, providing another trigger point for the Commonwealth to have a say on the states' approval process", he said.
The crossbench MP said he had discussed the plan with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in negotiations to form government after last year's election, according to The Australian Financial Review.
Email a friend