A loaded train of black thermal coal winds its way around a beautiful river valley with the river below, on a sunny spring day in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales. Reforms to Australia's environment laws include a limit on the fast-tracking of coal and gas projects. Photo Credit: BeyondImages/Getty Images
Environment AustraliaMajor First-of-Its-Kind Win for Nature and the Economy Here
Australia has passed sweeping reforms to its environment laws, introducing the nation’s first independent regulator and stronger safeguards for forests, wildlife, and water.
“This is a vital win for both nature and our economy,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, highlighting the reforms’ dual focus on protection and sustainable growth.
The new laws end decades of weak oversight by establishing national environmental standards, removing exemptions for high-risk land-clearing, and requiring federal approval for coal and gas projects that affect water. They also bring regional forest agreements under federal authority, marking the most comprehensive environmental reform in Australia in more than 20 years — a shift expected to protect endangered species better while accelerating renewable energy and housing projects.
