Australia’s sea-dumping legislation: what is it and what does it mean for the marine environment?

Greens and David Pocock accused the government of doing the bidding of fossil fuel companies to allow new and expanded polluting projects

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

The Senate spent the past week debating legislation that would allow the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, to issue permits for carbon dioxide to be pumped into international waters.

The government bill passed with support from Coalition senators on Monday night after a fiery debate. The Greens senators and the independent senator David Pocock accused the government of doing the bidding of fossil fuel companies to allow new and expanded polluting projects. They said the government basically acknowledged this in the debate.