Under Labor, $8.3 million of taxpayer dollars has been gifted to an activist organisation engaged in environmental lawfare and putting jobs at risk.
The previous Coalition Government withdrew funding from the activist Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) in 2013, which has brought forward frivolous legal challenges to hinder significant resources projects around Australia.
However, the Albanese Government – instead of prioritising health, cost of living and the other areas given lip service in the recent budget – has decided to reinstate funding to the EDO.
This decision encourages the EDO to frustrate projects that are vital to our economy by bringing vexatious claims. Investment in important areas like Tasmania's west coast salmon industry to large scale gas projects that would create jobs and put downward pressure on inflation, is being impacted.
The EDO was recently found by a Federal Court Judge to have made up evidence and told witnesses what to say in court, during a challenge to a gas project worth $5.8 billion dollars.
It is the role of the Federal Government to stimulate investment and job creation, instead of funding ideological activist organisations bringing forward vexatious legal claims in a blatant attempt to stem votes bleeding to the Greens political party.
Industry also needs to have confidence that businesses, employees, and other stakeholders are not drowned in a molasses of green and red tape.
In a cost-of-living crisis, Labor should focus on keeping household budgets afloat and not throwing money at economic vandals.
