breakingFederal Parliament passes long-awaited reforms to Australia’s environmental lawsCaitlyn RintoulThe NightlyFri, 28 November 2025 7:16AMCommentsCommentsEmail Caitlyn Rintoul
Federal Parliament has passed long-awaited reforms to Australia’s environmental laws after Labor agreed to a deal with the Greens to get it through Parliament in its last sitting week of the year.
In an extended Friday sitting, the House of Representatives ushered in the most significant overhaul of environmental laws in decades, passing the bill 89-34.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a historic day, describing the reforms as a “a win for business, a win for our natural environment, and a win for the country”.
“They mean more investment, more jobs, more housing and more infrastructure,” he said
“They protect something that every Australian values and has a deep connection to; our treasured and unique natural environment.
“We know that the current laws are broken. Today, we fix them.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, accused Labor of signing “economy-wrecking” concessions with the Greens to ram the Bill through Parliament.
Ms Ley accused the parties of bringing the “Labor-Greens Alliance back in business” for a “lazy deal with the Greens”.
“This is economy-wrecking. There were people the Prime Minister didn’t reference in his remarks that need to be referenced, these are the people who pay the country’s bills, who provide jobs, who make our country strong, and who have been completely ignored by the Bill and by the amendments,” she said.
The Opposition Leader also referenced the Minerals Council calling the changes “inferior” and energy producers saying it will “put approvals in the slow lane”
“You have no gas strategy now. You have nothing to provide the power and the affordability to bring people’s energy prices down,” Ms Ley said.
Mr Albanese hit out at the Coalition over their handling of negotiations on the environmental laws.
He accused the Coalition of being a “mess” when responding to Labor’s “good faith negotiations”.
“Tragically, the mess that sits opposite us was incapable of coming up with plans that were consistent, that made sense,” the PM said during a speech in the House.
“They changed their position from hour to hour, coming up with furphies about radioactivity and all sorts of things that needed to be included.”
He also accused them of “ignoring” the major review of Australia’s environment laws they commissioned Professor Graeme Samuel to undertake while Ms Ley was then-Environment Minister.
Mr Albanese thanked Environment Minister Murray Watt for getting the deal across the line after 120 meetings since taking on the portfolio from Tanya Plibersek after their May 3 election win.
The legislation amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1991.
The rubber-stamping of the laws handed Mr Albanese a major political win on the final sitting day of the parliamentary year.
Before his appearance in the House, the PM had decided to start his morning by walking to work from The Lodge.
“What a beautiful environment. It’s a good day for the environment,” Mr Albanese had said, as he arrived at Parliament.
The House has adjourned until February 3 — which will be the first sitting day of 2026.
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