By Francisco Silva -
The Federal Minister for the Environment, Murray Watt, has introduced the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 to the House of Representatives, five years after an independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conversation Act 1999.
“Today we’ve introduced a package of reforms that delivers stronger environmental protections, faster project approvals and more transparency.” Watt said.
“I have consulted widely with stakeholders, holding 100 meetings, forums and roundtables since coming into this role five months ago.”
According to Watt’s office, consultation was held with key environmental, industry, First Nations and community stakeholders, in addition to Liberals, Greens and Independent parliamentarians.
To establish stronger environmental protection, the Bill provides a clearer definition of unacceptable impacts to big projects, as well as higher penalties for severe breaches of environmental law. The bill also strives to improve efficiency in project approval with removal of duplication in the approvals system, and a new Streamlined Assessment Pathway to reduce approval timeframes. Finally, the government hopes the Bill increases accountability and transparency by establishing the country’s first independent environmental protection agency to act as watchdog.
“This is not a zero-sum game – we can and are delivering legislation that is better for the environment, and better for business.” Watt said.
“Every day we delay the passing of these laws we see the environment suffer and we see business and the community suffer.”
But several environmental organisations expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed Bill. In a blog post, The Environmental Defenders Office listed several key points, which it argues the Bill fails to address. According tothe EDO, climate impact assessments will still not be required, which goes against the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice.
The EDO highlights several issues in the Bill, including that it keeps exemptions for large-scale deforestation projects, and loopholes that undermine the effectiveness of the Bill
“It is disappointing to see the government has not used this important opportunity to implement recommendations to increase accountability and integrity,” the EDO said. “In our view, the proposed amendments may exacerbate existing flaws in the EPBC Act identified by the Samuel Review by entrenching and extending discretional decision-making powers of the minister and their delegates.”
In their first review, the EDO accepted the Bill included elements to increase transparency and accountability but reiterated some key weaknesses could undermine the Act and the protection it currently provides.
The Greens confirmed their intention to oppose the Bill in its current form, with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young claiming the Bill was written to support the mining and deforestation lobby and provided little to guarantee protection of the environment.
