Coalition supports environmental reforms with changes

The coalition will support Labor's long-awaited environmental reforms if a series of amendments are accepted.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the coalition was seeking "sensible" changes to the 1500-page bill, which proposes to rewrite the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

"If they are adopted, then we will be supportive of legislation next week," Ms Ley said in a statement.

"However, if the government rejects sensible suggestions and chooses to put jobs at risk, then we will vote against them with an open mind to revisit negotiations next year."

The timing is crucial for Environment Minister Murray Watt, who has expressed confidence the reforms will pass the Senate before Christmas, with just four sitting days left for the parliamentary year before the summer