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".
After weeks of negotiations, Environment Minister Murray Watt announced Labor had struck a deal with the Greens on Thursday to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, which has long been criticised as "broken".
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.
Watt and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the team who finalised the deal, sat in the lower house as the bill passed, with MPs embracing them both after the vote.
Environment Minister Murray Watt and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young were all smiles after finally striking a deal on Australia's environmental laws. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
"These reforms are a win for business, a win for our natural environment and a win for the country," Albanese said.
"They mean more investment, more jobs, more housing and more infrastructure, and they protect something that every Australian values and has a deep connection to — our treasured and unique natural environment."
"This was a 'yes'-alition," he said, a play on the "no-alition" tag Albanese uses when the Greens and Coalition team up to oppose Labor bills.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley has criticised the government for striking a deal with the Greens. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
"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.
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