Prime Minister Commends 'Yes-alition' as Environmental Reforms Secure Passage Before Parliament Adjourns for the Year

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has happily returned for an extra sitting day to pass Labor’s environmental law reforms before wrapping up the parliamentary year.

Looking relaxed as he strolled into parliament on foot from the Lodge, Albanese said it was a “good day for the environment”.

MPs had to return on Friday morning to vote on the amendments made during negotiations, passing the changes with the support of the Greens and all crossbenchers.

In a moment of celebration, Environment Minister Murray Watt and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young sat in the lower house chamber, receiving warm embraces from their fellow MPs after successfully passing a significant environmental bill. The passage of this legislation marks the culmination of their efforts to reach an agreement on Australia’s environmental laws.

A male and female politician, sitting on chairs on the side of the lower house chamber, both smiling.

Both Watt and Hanson-Young were visibly pleased, their smiles reflecting the success of their negotiations. This significant political achievement was captured in images from the chamber, underscoring the collaborative spirit that led to this milestone.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking within the chamber, commended the Greens for their pragmatic approach, noting their willingness to prioritize progress over perfection. He humorously referred to the collaboration as a “yes-alition,” putting a positive spin on the term “no-alition” he often uses when the Greens and Coalition jointly oppose Labor’s proposals.

A woman in a pale blue suit, standing in front of a lectern in the lower house, with male colleagues sitting on the green couch behind her.

However, not everyone was pleased with the outcome. Opposition leader Sussan Ley voiced her disapproval of the government’s decision to partner with the Greens, indicating a divide in perspectives on the best path forward for Australia’s environmental policies. Despite this criticism, the successful passage of the bill stands as a testament to the power of cooperation in politics.

Shortly before the vote, Opposition leader Sussan Ley fired up, telling parliament the deal showed an alliance between Labor and the Greens was “well and truly back in business”.

“We’re not here for dirty deals with the Greens,” Ley said.

“After a disastrous year of no delivery with inflation and interest rates rising, we had to have this. Shame on this government for letting down the people of this country who pay the bills.”

Coalition environmental spokesperson Angie Bell has described the deal as “disastrous” for business and productivity.

The lower house also passed an education integrity bill — addressing departmental powers and course requirements for domestic students — before adjourning for the year.

Politicians will now return to their home states and territories for the summer break and will resume sitting on 3 February 2026.