Proposed NSW disaster authority would have ‘virtually unfettered’ land-clearing powers, environment groups say

Flooded homes in Forbes, NSW. The state’s planning minister, Anthony Roberts, introduced a bill to parliament to create a ‘Reconstruction Authority’. Photograph: Murray Mccloskey/AAP

A proposed new natural disaster authority in New South Wales would have “virtually unfettered” powers to overturn environmental protections and could result in the clearing of national parks, crossbench MPs and environment groups have warned.

The state’s planning minister, Anthony Roberts, introduced a bill to parliament on Monday to create a “Reconstruction Authority” dedicated to disaster preparedness, recovery and reconstruction.