The Coalition has joined the Greens in criticising Labor’s proposed changes to the federal environmental protection laws, leaving the Albanese government without an obvious partner to get the reforms through the Senate.

Sussan Ley claimed the nature laws were a “red light” for jobs and a “handbrake” for investment after the Greens suggested the proposed revamp was “worse than the status quo” . The environment minister, Murray Watt, on Wednesday said he remained “optimistic” the laws would be passed before Christmas.

It comes after Tanya Plibersek’s “nature positive” proposal was shelved by the prime minister late last year to quell a pre-election backlash in Western Australia.

Top news

Family of Cheryl Grimmer say ‘what we want now is the truth’ after NSW MP names suspect in parlia

See Full Page