Australia is set to undergo its most notable environmental law reform in decades, introducing the country’s first independent national environment regulator to boost protection and enforcement.
The Labor government reached a key agreement with the Greens party after protracted negotiations, allowing the legislation to advance through the Senate in the final parliamentary session of the year.
The new laws will establish Environment Protection Australia (EPA), an independent agency with stronger compliance powers, aimed at rectifying the shortcomings identified in the existing Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act), which has been criticised for failing to halt environmental degradation effectively.
The reforms will unify national environmental standards, tighten regulations on land clearing, and enforce “net gain” environmental offsets, ensuring development projects contribute positively to ecosystems.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the reforms as crucial for both environmental preservation and economic growth, highlighting their role in expediting projects in housing, renewable energy, and critical minerals.
“Everyone agrees that the laws as they stand are broken and need to be reformed” and stressed the reforms will “protect our environment and boost productivity in our economy,” Albanese stated.
The legislation includes a “water trigger” requiring federal approval for water use in coal and gas projects but excludes a “climate trigger” that would allow stopping fossil fuel projects directly based on their emissions. Instead, projects must report emissions and submit plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Greens leader Senator Larissa Waters welcomed gains but criticised the omission of the climate trigger.
Environmental groups remain divided; while improvements for native forests are welcomed, critics like Amanda McKenzie of the Climate Council warn that allowing new fossil fuel projects to continue unimpeded on emissions undermines climate goals.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen warned that without these reforms, Australia risks missing its 2035 emissions targets, despite a government commitment earlier in the year to reduce emissions by at least 62% from 2005 levels—current projections show only a 48-52% reduction might be achieved.
The reforms also feature higher penalties for environmental breaches, mandated emissions transparency, streamlined project approvals through new assessment pathways, and a shift of forest agreement oversight from states to the federal government.