‍Friday 28 November 2025

The Coalition say a dirty deal between Labor and the Greens will be economically destructive, after changes to environmental laws were passed this morning in the final sitting day of 2025.

Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, Territories and Regional Communications and Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP said the new arrangements apply the brakes and accelerator in the wrong places.  She said the Coalition’s protections for local environments are now more urgent than ever.

“The great irony here is that Labor are fast-tracking approval of renewable energy projects on native vegetation and prime agricultural land, supposedly to save the planet,” Dr Webster said.

Projects the Albanese Labor Government deems to be critical – such as the rapid roll-out of 28,000 kilometres of transmission lines and new renewable energy projects in regional Australia – will be fast-tracked under the new arrangement.  The fast-track will exempt Labor’s pet energy projects from environmental restrictions due to ‘national interest’ status under streamlined 30-day assessment pathways.  Notably, gas projects are excluded from the fast-track, despite some state Labor ministers saying gas has a role in their preferred pathway of energy transition to ‘net zero’.

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan moved an amendment during the debate seeking to impose fines for large solar or wind energy developments that threaten significant impact on the local environment.  The amendment did not pass.

Dr Webster said she fought hard for specific provision in the Coalition’s recent Cheaper, Better, Fairer energy policy, that the Coalition will legislate a Code of Conduct for electricity infrastructure developers (such as VicGrid) that requires a social licence and protects prime agricultural land and native habitats. Compliance with the Code would be required for developers to access federal funding and the Code will be embedded in State Energy Deals.

“For all the song and dance by Labor and the Greens in Canberra today, the reality is they are trashing local environments in their brazen pursuit of unachievable energy generation targets,” Dr Webster said.

Meanwhile, National Farmers’ Federation president Hamish McIntyre said farmers have been left bitterly disappointed by the Labor-Greens environmental deal on Friday.

“Our key concern is the announcement of ‘closer controls’ of ‘high risk land clearing’. The specifics of this remain unclear, and we are urgently calling for clarity,” Mr McIntyre said.

“Introduction of reduced regrowth thresholds to the long-established ‘continuing use’ provision will promote poor environmental outcomes and increase bushfire risk. It will interfere with routine vegetation management of regrowth to prevent bushfires, keep land productive, and manage weeds.”

Farmers will now need to be even more vigilant to ensure regrowth is not swiftly classified as significant vegetation and unable to be cleared.

Dr Webster said the rushed, dirty deal with the Greens has added more complexity and uncertainty, not less, while Australian productivity is in freefall.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar called the new federal Environment Protection Agency “Frankenstein’s monster” warning of its “excessive powers and limited guardrails.”  

The new EPA is slated to be established within 7 months.

Minerals Council chief executive Tania Constable said the Labor-Greens deal “creates more power for unelected officials” while the Business Council’s Bran Black was critical of the EPA and its CEO having broad authority over approvals, rather than focusing on compliance and enforcement.

National forestry also faces an uncertain future, with new strict environmental standards for regional forestry agreements coming into effect in 18 months’ time.

“This is a chaotic regime that will hurt jobs, productivity and investment,” Dr Webster said.

“By locking in a Greens-backed model, the Government has cemented uncertainty, entrenched excessive regulatory power in an unaccountable EPA, and guaranteed longer delays for project approvals across the economy. While picking their winners for fast-tracking approval, Labor creates more anxiety for farming communities.

“The Coalition was constructive at every step, offering sensible amendments and a practical pathway to deliver genuine streamlining and improved environmental outcomes.

“The Coalition will fight for an environmental system that protects our natural heritage while supporting jobs, investment and the communities that rely on a strong economy.”

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