LABOR’S GLOOMY ENVIRONMENT LAWS

ANGIE BELL MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

SHADOW MINISTER FOR YOUTH

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MONCRIEFF

MEDIA RELEASE

14 November 2025

LABOR’S GLOOMY ENVIRONMENT LAWS

When the Treasurer and Environment Minister came out of the August productivity roundtable, the solution to all their problems – or so it appeared – was accelerated Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) reform.

Labor introduced seven Bills as part of the reform package, swiftly charged through debate and rammed these through the House of Representatives with the hope of passing them before the year is up.

Today’s senate inquiry has revealed stakeholders cannot support the Bills in their current form, despite Minister Watt proclaiming these reforms as balanced.

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Youth, Angie Bell, said this inquiry should serve as an eye-opener for this Government.

“We’ve seen several stakeholders today, including Professor Graeme Samuel – author of the Coalition-commissioned Samuel Review – saying they cannot support this legislation,” Ms Bell said.

“Professor Samuel even went as far as to say he will need a number of weeks to read the package including the standards.

“If the Albanese Labor Government want this legislation passed, there will need to be significant amendments made and that puts their original deadline in serious doubt.

“This is what happens when Labor rushed through complex and untested legislation that doesn’t work for stakeholders, jobs, productivity or the environment.”

The government plans to have legislation passed by the end of November.

The Bills, are now part of a Senate Committee Inquiry that is due to report back on 24th March 2026.

[ENDS]