By Abbas Nazil
Australia is set to introduce sweeping reforms to its national environmental laws aimed at better protecting nature while accelerating approval times for major development projects.
The center-left Labor government will present a long-awaited bill to Parliament on Thursday to amend the outdated Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1991.
The new legislation proposes the creation of a national Environmental Protection Authority empowered to enforce environmental standards and impose fines of up to A$825 million ($544 million) on offenders.
It will also establish national standards to guide decision-making and reform how carbon offsets are managed across various industries, including natural gas, mining, and renewable energy.
Environment Minister Murray Watt said the government intends to reduce approval processes from decades to years and from years to months while maintaining strict environmental safeguards.
The bill, however, faces political hurdles in the Senate, where the Labor Party lacks a majority and will require support from opposition parties or the Greens to pass.
Negotiations are expected in the coming weeks, as both the center-right coalition and environmental groups have raised concerns over certain provisions.
A clause allowing the government to approve projects conflicting with environmental laws if deemed in the “national interest” has drawn backlash from climate advocates, who argue it weakens environmental protection.
Opposition lawmakers contend that the proposed laws prioritize environmental issues over economic growth.
The reforms follow the findings of the Samuel Review, which described the existing environmental framework as outdated and inefficient, leading to project delays and failing to curb ecological decline.
Watt hopes the legislation will pass before the end of the year, streamlining approvals while reinforcing Australia’s commitment to both environmental protection and economic progress.
