Labor's hopes for its nature protection laws passing before Christmas might be dashed with the Greens threatening to block the sweeping reforms.

The bill of almost 1500 pages that rewrites the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act passed the House of Representatives on Thursday.

But Environment Minister Murray Watt's battle has just begun, with the proposed laws to be examined in a Senate inquiry with neither the coalition nor Greens onside with the changes.

The inquiry is due to report its findings in March, but the government's hopes of striking an earlier deal may be dealt a blow by the Greens who plan extensive scrutiny.

The fact mining interests including the Minerals Council and BHP encouraged Labor and the coalition to strike a deal to ensure the bill's quick

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