Environmental reform laws to pass after final-day deal between government, Greens
Updated . First published at
After five years of delays, laws to overhaul Australia's broken environmental regulation system will pass parliament following a deal between the government and Greens.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced this morning that he had struck a deal with the minor party to ensure legislation rewriting the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act will pass the Senate today, the final sitting day of the year.
"This is a landmark day for the environment in this country," Albanese said.
READ MORE: Three arrested over horror Hong Kong high rise fire
Anthony Albanese said the passage of environmental reforms is a "landmark day". Dominic Lorrimer
"It is also a good day for business in this country by providing more certainty, reducing delays and making sure that we get better outcomes and improve productivity."
The deal comes more than five years after a 2020 review by Professor Graeme Samuel found the EPBC Act required "fundamental reform", because it was a "barrier to holistic environmental management which… is essential for success" and wasn't trusted by the public.
Albanese said the reforms will change the act to provide better environmental protections while at the same time speeding up approvals for key projects, including housing, critical minerals and energy.
"These laws will reduce approval times from years to months and from months to weeks," he said.
READ MORE: Woman dead and man seriously injured in early morning attack at NSW beach
The Greens said they were able to get protections for native habitat included in the laws. Janie Barrett
Labor proposed a reworked EPBC Act last month under new Environment Minister Murray Watt after a previous attempt at reform fell over last term – in part due to Albanese vetoing a deal with the Greens on the matter exactly a year ago to the day.
Following negotiations with the Greens, the government has agreed to a number of concessions in order to win the support of the minor party, including removing an exemption for high-risk land clearing and harsher penalties for significant law breaches.
A new $300 million forestry growth fund will also be established, while the Greens particularly welcomed the removal of fast-track approvals for fossil fuel projects.
"We are very, very proud that we were able to stop the fast-tracking of coal and gas," party leader Larissa Waters said.
"That was an absolute red line for us."
READ MORE: Australia's most annoying driving habit could cost you more than $500 in fines
While the party said the laws still don't provide enough protection for the climate, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said it was still a positive step forward.
"The reason the Greens have come to this agreement with the government today is because we want to get things done," she said.
The Coalition had warned the government against striking a deal with the Greens, however Albanese said Opposition Leader Sussan Ley refused to meet with him to discuss the bill – although he did thank Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam for his negotiations.
"That wasn't taken up, that offer (of a meeting with Ley), by the Coalition," Albanese said.
The opposition has denied that claim, saying instead that an offer was never extended.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
Most viewed in Australia
‘Unimaginable loss’: Two children killed in horror crash on the way home from school
Talia and Ebony were physically abused by their mother. Then she was made into a TV star
Blanche d’Alpuget, writer and widow of Bob Hawke, dies aged 82
Justine lost her brother suddenly. Then an unexpected email arrived
