WA mining and media ‘naysayers’ spreading misinformation about nature reforms, Senate hears

Graeme Samuel has told a Senate hearing that he is concerned about ‘potential misinformation’ coming through from the mining sector and ‘certain media outlets’ in WA. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The head of a review into Australia’s national environmental laws has accused Western Australia’s mining industry and media of spreading “misinformation” about the Albanese government’s nature reforms.

Graeme Samuel told a federal Senate hearing into the extinction crisis that “naysayers” in WA’s mining sector had run a campaign of “negative publicity” against improved environmental protections.