Labor to propose new environmental laws to enforce biodiversity and conservation

Bill Shorten's government would, if elected, create a national environment protection authority and a new environment act

A Labor government would bring in new federal environment laws and strong independent agencies including a national environment protection authority (EPA) to enforce them, under a draft policy platform signed off by the ALP national executive.

Developed by a 60-member policy forum chaired by the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, and the outgoing party president, Mark Butler, the platform is the basis for debate at Labor's national conference in Adelaide next month.