Coalition would back Labor’s environment laws with ‘sensible’ amendments

The Coalition is prepared to back the Albanese government’s environment laws with “sensible” amendments, as environment groups point to a new poll showing Labor risks alienating its voting base unless strong climate measures are in the bill.

The opposition has identified seven key areas where change would be required for the Coalition to support Labor’s proposed reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in the Senate next week.

Despite this apparent narrowing of concerns, it is understood a longer list of asks were also presented to the government this week as part of negotiations.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said a deal in the final sitting week of parliament for the year would only be possible if Labor agreed to all the Coalition’s amendments and rejected the Greens’ demands.

The Coalition wants the bill’s definitions of “unacceptable impact” and “net gain” defined, and to revisit the size and scope of proposed penalties for breaches of the environmental laws.

The opposition has also asked for existing streamlined pathways for approvals to be reinserted into the laws, and changes to the role and powers of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to keep assessment responsibilities with the minister and a narrowing of the rules around how stop work orders could be issued.

Ms Ley said the amendments were “sensible” and if adopted the Coalition would be “supportive of legislation next week”.

“However, if the government rejects sensible suggestions and chooses to put jobs at risk, then we will vote against them, with an open mind to revisit negotiations next year,” she said.

Pressure to address climate change in laws

It comes as almost two-thirds of Australians said they believed it would be the wrong decision if Labor did not include climate change in its environment law reforms, according to a poll of 3,800 people conducted by YouGov for the Climate Council last week.

Among those who described themselves as Labor voters, this increased to 78 per cent.

Almost half of people who voted for Labor said they were less inclined to back the Albanese government in the future if climate change was not addressed in the new laws.

Analysis of the results applied at an electorate level found marginal Labor seats where the runner up candidates in the 2025 election were either independents or the Greens had a larger number of voters who said they were either “less likely” or “much less likely” to vote Labor again than the national average.

This included the seat of Fremantle in Western Australia, Griffith in Queensland, Wills and Melbourne in Victoria, Sydney in NSW and Bean in the ACT.

Climate Council chief Amanda McKenzie said there was “definitely” a community expectation the law reforms would deal with climate change, particularly among Labor’s voting base.

Ms McKenzie said the laws must also be in the interest of the environment, questioning whether this could be achieved by working with the Coalition to get the reforms through the Senate.

“A deal with the Coalition, given its extremely poor record on environment and climate particularly now, would tarnish [the government’s] credibility with ALP voters and the community at large,” she said.

Greens environment spokesperson senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the government’s current proposal failed to protect endangered species and forests, while giving fossil fuel companies a “free ride”.

In a speech to the Queensland Media Club on Thursday, Environment Minister Murray Watt said getting the “balance right” between protecting the environment and improving the approvals process for “job creating, productivity boosting” projects was at the “core” of Labor’s proposal.

“A key focus of our reforms is removing duplication in the federal and state approvals and assessment systems for projects, all while maintaining strong environmental standards,” he said.