The Australian Parliament must make a choice - support reform that will protect our treasured natural environment and drive productivity, or keep the broken, outdated laws we have which are failing business, the environment and our community.
It is five years to the day since Professor Graeme Samuel AC delivered his independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to then-environment minister Sussan Ley.
Today we have introduced the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 to the House of Representatives.
Environmental law reform is long overdue, and we have the best opportunity right now to pass a modern, balanced set of laws in the spirit of the Samuel Review that are firmly in the national interest.
The legislation we have introduced to the House of Representatives today has been informed by extensive consultation with key environmental, industry, First Nations and community stakeholders as well as the Coalition, the Greens and independent parliamentarians.
What has resulted is a targeted and balanced package of reforms to the EPBC Act centering on three key pillars:
- Stronger environmental protection and restoration
- More efficient and robust project approvals
- Greater accountability and transparency in environmental decision making
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt:
"Today we've introduced a package of reforms that delivers stronger environmental protections, faster project approvals and more transparency.
"I have consulted widely with stakeholders, holding 100 meetings, forums and roundtables since coming into this role five months ago.
"This is not a zero-sum game - we can and are delivering legislation that is better for the environment, and better for business.
"Every day we delay the passing of these laws we see the environment suffer and we see business and the community suffer.
"It's now up to the Parliament to decide whether or not to support these important reforms, or team up to keep the broken laws we have now, which aren't protecting the environment and are stifling business and investment."
Additional information:
Stronger environmental protection and restoration
- A new Ministerial power to make National Environmental Standards.
- Providing a clear definition of unacceptable impacts to deliver greater protection for the environment and more certainty to industry.
- A new robust offsets regime including new net gain and the establishment of a Restoration Contributions Holder.
- Higher penalties for intentional and severe breaches of environmental law.
More efficient and robust project approvals
- Removing duplication in the approvals and assessment systems through new and updated bilateral agreements with states and territories.
- A new Streamlined Assessment Pathway to significantly reduce the assessment timeframe for proponents who provide sufficient information upfront.
- Regional planning to streamline development in areas with lower environmental impacts, while avoiding development impacts in areas with higher ecological value.
- Improving consistency in environmental decision making.
Greater accountability and transparency in environmental decision making
- Establishing Australia's first national, independent environmental protection agency.
- The National EPA will be an independent watchdog with stronger new powers including the ability to issue 'stop-work' orders and to audit approval holders to ensure they are compliant.
- The Minister for the Environment will retain decision-making on environmental assessments and approvals.
- Requiring the disclosure of emissions and details of how they will be managed in line with the Government's climate policies like the Safeguard Mechanism.
- Establishing a statutory Head of Environment Information Australia to oversee better environmental data and reporting.
