Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will challenge the government to split up its contentious environmental protection laws as she offers Coalition support for efforts to speed up the approval of rare earth mines and major infrastructure projects.

Ley’s attempt to turn the tables on the government after weeks of opposition infighting came as the government confirmed the environment minister would be able to overrule the new regulator, to be known as the National Environment Protection Agency, on major project approvals.

Flagging an intense period of negotiations during the remaining weeks of the parliamentary year, Environment Minister Murray Watt declared the nation’s environment laws were “broken”.

“Of course we’re open to amendments being put forward and I expect that we’ll see some in the

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