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Greens leader Larissa Waters has issued a strong warning to the Albanese government: its plan to rewrite Australia’s outdated environmental laws will lack credibility if it continues to approve new coal and gas projects or allows ongoing habitat destruction during the transition.

The remarks come as the Labor government prepares to overhaul Howard-era environmental laws that critics say have long prioritized development over genuine environmental protection.

Waters says the Greens, who hold the balance of power in the Senate, won’t support any reforms that fail to explicitly account for climate change and that merely tinker around the edges of a broken system.

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Labor’s “Nature Positive” Reforms Face Scrutiny

The government’s proposed environmental reforms include a promise to pass “nature positive” laws within an 18-month timeline. Environment Minister Murray Watt, who took over the portfolio after the May 3 federal election victory, has described the new laws as a “very high and immediate” priority.

These reforms are expected to update the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, originally introduced by the Howard government. Critics, including scientists, conservationists, and legal experts, have long argued the Act is outdated, weak, and heavily geared toward approving development, including mining, fossil fuel extraction, and urban expansion.

But Waters says the Greens won’t support a fast-tracked legislative process unless it delivers real change—not just rebranded development approvals.

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Federal Environment Protection Agency Still in Limbo

One of the core features of Labor’s original environmental reform package—a new independent federal Environment Protection Agency (EPA)—was abandoned before the last election. At the time, former Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek had been negotiating a deal with the Greens to push the reform through.

However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ultimately shelved the plan, fearing a voter backlash in resource-rich Western Australia, where Labor was targeting crucial seats.

Now, Waters is urging the government to put the EPA proposal back on the table and to recommit to creating a strong, independent watchdog that can enforce environmental law without political interference.

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Greens Say Climate Must Be Central to New Laws

Waters says any serious reform of Australia’s national environment laws must include climate change as a core consideration—something the current legislation fails to do.

“It’s not enough to just tweak a few processes and rename the laws,” she said. “These rules were written to facilitate development, not to protect nature or the climate. If we’re going to fix them, we need to fix them properly.”

The Greens are calling for new laws that:

• Ban the approval of projects that would increase climate pollution
• Halt the destruction of critical habitat for endangered species
• Establish legally enforceable nature protection standards
• Restore confidence in environmental decision-making through independent oversight

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Political Stakes Rising Ahead of Next Election

With the next federal election expected by mid-2026, Waters also warned Labor not to delay reform too long or use the 18-month review window to quietly approve environmentally damaging projects.

“We’ve seen it before—governments talking big on the environment, while quietly waving through more coal and gas. That won’t fly anymore,” she said.

The Greens believe the electorate is demanding stronger action on both climate and biodiversity, and that any backsliding could cost Labor politically, especially among younger voters and in inner-city electorates.

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Labor Needs Greens’ Support to Pass the Laws

Labor does not control the Senate outright, which means any major environmental legislation will require Greens support—or that of other crossbenchers. Waters has made clear that the Greens are willing to negotiate, but only if the final product represents a genuine shift away from fossil fuels and destruction of nature.

Minister Watt has indicated he is open to discussions, saying the government’s May 3 election win gives them a “clear mandate” to pass the laws but adding that cooperation with the Greens will be essential.

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Will Labor Deliver Real Reform or Just Rebranding?

As Australia faces growing ecological and climate crises—from species extinction to worsening bushfires and floods—the pressure is on the Albanese government to deliver bold and effective environmental reforms.

Whether Labor can balance political realities with the scale of environmental challenges remains to be seen. For now, the message from the Greens is clear: no more business as usual.

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