Australia's Environment Minister Murray Watt has declared he will secure passage of Labor's controversial nature laws through the Senate during parliament's final sitting week for 2025, confirming he's prepared to strike a deal with either the Coalition or the Greens to ensure the legislation passes.
Cross-Bench Negotiations Intensify
Senior Liberal MPs have expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with Labor on a watered-down version of the environmental protection laws, which would require significant concessions from the government. The proposed deal would involve revising a key provision designed to block projects causing "unacceptable impact" on the environment, a clause that industry groups argue is too vague.
Watt held another round of crucial talks with both Greens and Liberal counterparts on Wednesday, maintaining his position that the laws will pass before parliament rises on 27 November. The minister delivered an ultimatum to both parties, stating: "I want to make it again, very clear, we will be passing these reforms next week in the final sitting week of the year, and it's now up to the Coalition and the Greens to decide whether they want to be part of that or not."
Industry Pressure and Environmental Concerns
The opposition's demands largely mirror amendments proposed by an alliance of 26 industry groups who wrote to both Watt and shadow environment minister Angie Bell urging major changes to the bill. Key industry concerns include:
- Revising the "unacceptable impact" definition that businesses fear could set too low a bar for blocking developments
- Constraining powers of the proposed environment protection agency
- Allowing developers to appeal "stop-work" orders that halt projects
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, who previously helped defeat the Albanese government's first attempt to amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, has indicated he shares industry concerns about the legislation's potential impact.
Greens Warn Against Coalition Compromise
The Greens environment spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, issued a stark warning about any deal between Labor and the Coalition, suggesting such an agreement would undermine the legislation's credibility. "If the climate deniers in the Liberal and National parties support the bill, then it just shows that it has been written for big business and mining companies," she stated.
The Greens are demanding several key provisions that they consider non-negotiable, including:
- Protection for native forests
- Assessment of climate effects for all proposed projects
- Guarantees against fast-tracking coal and gas projects
- Removal of ministerial powers to override nature laws for "national interest" projects
Despite the challenges, Liberal sources indicate that some right-faction members are more open to compromise on EPBC reform, partly to avoid distancing the party from traditional industry allies who support both climate targets and EPBC Act reform.
With parliament's final sitting week approaching, all parties face increasing pressure to either reach a compromise or risk the legislation failing entirely, setting up a dramatic conclusion to Australia's environmental policy negotiations for 2025.
