Paws for Wildlife is among those with concerns the adoption of the federal government’s proposed environmental reforms will result in weaker laws than the existing legislation.

Federal Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt is keen to pass the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 before the end of the year.

In late October when the EPBC reform legislation was introduced to the House of Representatives Senator Watt said it had been informed by extensive consultation with key environmental, industry, First Nations and community stakeholders as well as the Coalition, the Greens and independent parliamentarians.

Senator Watt said what had resulted was a targeted and balanced package of reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) centering on three key pillars – stronger environmental protection and restoration, more efficient and robust project approvals and greater accountability and transparency in environmental decision making.

But environmentalists claim the proposed laws will cut community consultation, create gaping new loopholes for industry to get around and allow the states and territories to make the big decisions about what to protect in Australia’s environment when they don’t deserve that amount of trust.

At the same time industry advocates are calling for an immediate pathway to faster, more efficient assessments for projects and say introducing multiple definitions of “unacceptable impact” on the environment introduces complexity and ambiguity and threatens to stall resource projects.

Paws for Wildlife president, Jacqui Huntley, who is also a City of Wanneroo councillor (but was not speaking on behalf of the council) said she was bitterly disappointed with the long-anticipated changes proposed for the nation’s nature laws.

Ms Huntley said since the Albanese Government took office extensive deforestation had occurred in Queensland and recently the Christmas Island shrew had been declared extinct.

“(In WA) Julimar forest is under threat of mining, Pinjar and Yeal reserve are under threat of clearing for the movement of growers from Carabooda becoming a town the size of Ellenbrook,’’ she said.

“With no regard to the bushland or wildlife going to be displaced.

“No corridors and nowhere for people to escape back to nature.

“(Senator) Watt’s Bills fly in the face of concerned, passionate people like us, who have mobilised, signed petitions and taken action to tell the government to do its job and prioritise our dying natural bushland.”

Lock the Gate research and investigations head Georgina Woods said Labor’s proposed reforms would make national environment laws much worse.

“They would cut community consultation, create gaping new loopholes and hand decisions of national significance to the states and territories, who have proven they can’t be trusted to protect Australia’s environment.

“The so-called streamlined assessment enables quick approval of all kinds of development, including mining and fracking, with no public consultation.

“Giving mining companies the inside running while local communities are cut out will hasten the path for many much-loved species towards extinction.

“The reforms open gigantic new loopholes that concentrate unchecked power in the hands of the minister and create a major corruption risk, enabling mining companies to effectively apply for special rules to suit their interests.’’

Industry and businesses are unhappy as well.

Just before the legislation was introduced to federal Parliament the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA (CME) said industry held significant concerns about parts of the legislation.

CME WA policy and advocacy director Anita Logiudice said successful environmental reform was integral to the government’s Future Made in Australia agenda, continued progress towards climate targets, sustaining the world-leading resources sector and easing pressure on national housing supply.

“But getting these critical reforms right is far more important than getting them done fast,’’ she said.

“It is essential time is allowed for testing and adjustment to ensure the reforms deliver their promised improvements for both the environment and for business.”

The two priority issues CME had identified included the inclusion of multiple definitions of “unacceptable impact” thus introducing complexity and ambiguity that threatened to stall resource projects throughout WA.

“We believe there should be one single definition, developed following careful consideration and testing by a range of stakeholders.

“The resource sector understands that environmental assessments can lead to different outcomes: some projects are not approved, some proceed as proposed and others proceed with conditions,’’ she said.

“Getting the “unacceptable impact” definition right is not about changing those outcomes; it’s about making sure proponents, regulators and the Australian community share a clear and consistent understanding of the criteria – the current drafting does not provide that clarity.”

CME’s second priority issue was that the reforms offered no immediate pathway to faster, more efficient assessments for WA projects.

“In WA, faster project assessments appear contingent on future negotiations between state and federal governments on bilateral agreements, as yet undefined regulatory tests or the mineral reserve being in an area that may be covered by a regional plan at some point in the future.

“At a minimum, we are seeking a commitment from the federal and state government that WA will be accredited for both assessments and approvals within six months of the laws passing.

“Project assessments can be both rigorous and efficient – and they need to be both for Australia to have any hope of competing for investment with countries that have similar environmental standards but are reaching decisions much faster than we are.

“CME remains committed to reform of the EPBC Act but the reforms must achieve their environmental outcomes without badly damaging Australia’s ability to compete for international investment.”

In federal Parliament on November 4, when making a statement about international environmental leadership Senator Watt said the EPBC reforms were designed to fix Australia’s broken environmental laws and deliver real benefits for the future.

“And this matters internationally because Australia is home to unique species and significant natural sites protected under the EPBC Act,’’ he said.

“Our reforms will deliver the modern laws that will better protect the environment, while increasing transparency and streamlining the approvals and assessments system.

“Strong new national environmental standards will be part of this legislation.

“And I’d encourage those in this place to work with the government to get them passed.’’

Meanwhile, the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 (and related Bills) have been referred to the Senate standing committee on environment and communications for inquiry and report by Thursday, March 26 next year.

Public consultation is now open on two draft national environmental standards – matters of national environmental significance and environmental offsets.

The federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said consultation closes on Friday, January 30, 2026.

You can read the draft standards and provide your feedback via the department’s consultation hub.

This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 18 November 2025.