Ask Onix
Australia overhauls nature laws with new regulator and stricter protections
Australia is set to reform its decades-old environmental laws after the Labor government secured a last-minute deal with the Greens, breaking a prolonged deadlock. The changes, expected to pass the Senate on Thursday, include the creation of the country's first independent environment regulator, stricter land-clearing rules, and new protections for native forests-though critics argue the measures still fall short.
Cross-party deal breaks stalemate
Negotiations with the opposition Liberal-National coalition collapsed, prompting Labor to strike an agreement with the Greens to push the reforms through before parliament's final sitting day of the year. The opposition had sought further concessions for businesses, while Greens leader Senator Larissa Waters secured key wins but lamented the absence of a "climate trigger"-a mechanism to block fossil fuel projects based on emissions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the reforms as a "win for nature and business," emphasizing their potential to accelerate projects in housing, renewable energy, and critical minerals. "Everyone agrees that the laws as they stand are broken and need to be reformed," he said, calling the passage of the bill vital for both environmental protection and economic productivity.
Key reforms: New agency, stricter rules
The overhaul establishes Australia's first national environment protection agency and introduces national standards for safeguarding endangered wildlife. It also eliminates exemptions for "high-risk land clearing" and shifts oversight of regional forest agreements from state to federal jurisdiction-a move criticized by Liberals leader Sussan Ley, who called the Labor-Greens deal "dirty" and warned of job losses in forestry.
Under the new laws, coal and gas projects must obtain federal approval for water use, but they will not face automatic rejection based on carbon emissions. Instead, projects must report emissions and outline plans to reach net zero by 2050-a compromise that climate advocates argue undermines the reforms' effectiveness.
"New coal and gas projects still get a free pass on climate pollution. That is a gaping hole in a law that should protect nature from the ravages of climate change."
Amanda McKenzie, CEO, Climate Council
Emissions targets at risk
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen warned on Thursday that Australia-one of the world's highest per capita polluters-will miss its 2035 emissions reduction targets without "significant changes." The government had previously pledged a 62% cut in emissions from 2005 levels by 2035, but current projections forecast only a 48-52% reduction.
Background: A five-year push for reform
The latest reforms follow a 2020 independent review that declared Australia's existing nature laws "no longer fit for purpose." The review highlighted systemic failures in protecting biodiversity and called for sweeping changes to modernize environmental governance.
What's next
If passed as expected, the laws will take effect immediately, with the new environment protection agency tasked with enforcing the updated standards. The government has signaled further reviews to address gaps, including potential adjustments to the emissions reporting framework for fossil fuel projects.
