“There are absolutely no deviations, major or minor, from the review’s recommendations. This is why, after five arduous years, I am content,” he stated.

Implemented in 1999 by the Howard administration, the EPBC Act was designed to safeguard endangered species and ecosystems of national importance. However, detractors argue it has been ineffective in preventing environmental degradation.

“This is our only chance. We have a rare opportunity to enact reforms that benefit both the environment and business, as Professor Samuel suggested five years ago,” Watt emphasized.

He urged, “To the Greens and the Coalition, please put aside political maneuvering and advance this legislation. It’s crucial for providing lasting environmental protection for future generations.”

Opposition leader Sussan Ley, who spearheaded the previous review in 2020 as the environment minister, labeled the proposed reforms as an “environment approvals disaster.”

Addressing the NPC, Watt remarked, “No party will achieve everything they desire. If everyone insists on getting everything, we’ll end up with nothing.”

Opposition leader Sussan Ley, who led the previous review process as then-environment minister in 2020, has called the reforms an “environment approvals disaster”.

Before the NPC, Watt said: “No-one is going to get 100 per cent of what they want. If everyone gets 100 per cent of what they want, we will get nothing.”

‘Urgent for decades’

“This has been urgent for decades, frankly, for two and a half decades,” he said.