LABOR MISSING IN ACTION ON ENVIRONMENT LAWS

ANGIE BELL MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

SHADOW MINISTER FOR YOUTH

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MONCRIEFF

MEDIA RELEASE

21 November 2025

LABOR MISSING IN ACTION ON ENVIRONMENT LAWS

On the eve of the final sitting week for 2025 – Labor has set the scene with a self-imposed pre-Christmas deadline to pass their Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act reforms.

Despite the rush, the Coalition is yet to see amendments from the Government.

Labor has rushed through the drafting and introduction of this complex legislation that has been deemed ‘unworkable’ by stakeholders across the spectrum.

Now, they’ve gone silent with no detail for a path forward to fix the terrible legislation that has been put forward.

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Youth, Angie Bell is waiting for the Government to come to the table with their amendments.

“The Coalition entered into good faith negotiations and has been clear on what is needed to make good legislation,” Ms Bell said.

“After three days of Senate hearings, we’ve heard evidence from stakeholders across the spectrum that the proposed legislation is unworkable and there is no need for this rushed timeline.

“This should serve as a very clear, very strong message to the Government from stakeholders that they need to get this right.

“We’ve laid our cards on the table for the Government to implement sensible, practical and much-need amendments that benefits jobs and the environment.

“Environmental reform is too important to get wrong.”

The Senate Inquiry is ongoing with stakeholders continuing to give evidence.

[ENDS]

Background:

Housing industry representatives appearing before the Senate Committee claim there are up to 40,000 homes stuck in the pipeline awaiting approvals and under the new legislation they would be hit with excess red tape and costs that would push the cost of housing up in Australia.

Australian businesses are calling on the government to remove duplication and costs, along with the removal of greenhouse gas reporting that is covered in climate legislation.

The housing industry and other stakeholders have highlighted how the definitions of unacceptable impacts would rule out many housing projects.

The inquiry has heard that extensive and significant amendments are needed to fix the legislation, which in its current form is worse than the current set of environment laws.

Stakeholders have been clear that this 1,500 page reform package cannot be sufficiently and effectively analysed in the Government’s self-imposed time frame and need more time to provide the extensive detailed amendments needed to fix this legislation.