Environment Protection Authority (EPA)

Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese

Labor came to government on the back of a strong vote for real action on climate change, but have now reneged on the promise to introduce stronger environment protection laws. Pip Hinman reports. 

Apex Energy, in a joint venture with Ormil Energy (later Magnum Gas and Power), obtained a licence in 2011 to explore for coal seam gas (CSG) in the Illawarra, south of Sydney. Almost immediately a group of concerned locals came together to stop the project — and Stop CSG Illawarra was formed. Five years later, as Apex Energy exits the scene, rather anti-climactically, it is apparent the community has won and the environment and greater Sydney's drinking water are safe from this threat.