Parliament passes environment laws on final day

The Australian Parliament passes new environment laws on its final sitting day of 2025, with the Albanese government securing Greens support for the long-promised environmental reform. Opposition MPs express concern about potential job losses and rising energy prices from the legislation. The parliamentary year concludes with ongoing tensions over Barnaby Joyce's decision to quit the Nationals party.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
It took to the last full day of Parliament for
the year, and even a little over time, but the
government has now locked in its final bill for twenty
twenty five. Federal MPs all too eager to make their
Christmas exits after a snap sitting to pass new environment laws.
Political reporter Tim Leicester is in Canberra.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
For the government. Today marks the finish to a year
that would have been hard to imagine just twelve months ago.
Prime Minister Alberizi walking from the lodge to Parliament looking upbeat.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
How are you this morning?

Speaker 4 (00:39):
You got?

Speaker 2 (00:40):
His government, still riding high from May's giant election win,
today voted through a long promised reform of Australia's environment laws,
the government riling opposition MPs as it congratulated the Greens
for supporting the new laws.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
The perfect to be the enemy of the good.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Parliament rising for the year at the House to now
a journey.

Speaker 5 (01:10):
The House stands a journ until Tuesday third January twenty
twenty sixth or twelve noon.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
He means the third of February. MP's departing some focused
on the laws just passed.

Speaker 5 (01:23):
Wishing everybody absolutely lovely Christmas and have a wonderful break
and I think this EPBC actually changed. Passing today is
a really positive move.

Speaker 4 (01:30):
Laws that have been passed are going to be disastrous
for jobs, The energy prices will go up for Australians.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
Others still unhappy with Barnaby Joyce's decision to quit the Nationals.
Politics is a team sport. Barnaby always wants to be captain,
but he's decided he's not going to be part of
the Nationals team going forward. The Opposition's bruising parliamentary year
over it now heads home, perhaps with one consolation. The
swings of politics mean governments never stay ascended forever. Change

(02:00):
is coming.