The Australian Parliament has passed the Environment Protection Reform Bills. This occurred on Friday 28 November.
The Bills received Royal Assent from the Governor General on Monday 1 December. They are now officially law. Some laws take effect immediately. Others will be phased in to allow further consultation and planning.
The new laws will deliver:
- stronger environmental protection and restoration
- more efficient and robust project assessments
- greater accountability and transparency in decision making.
The new laws were shaped through years of community consultation. The Government will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure a seamless rollout. This will include:
- transitional arrangements
- implementation details.
The 7 bills passed on Friday 28 November:
- Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025
- National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025
- Environment Information Australia Bill 2025
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025
Original article published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
