2025-11-27
how people power improved australia's nature laws
By Senator Larissa Waters, Leader of the Australian Greens
The Greens have secured significant improvements to Australia’s environment laws, protecting native forests, closing land clearing loopholes and stopping the fast tracking of coal and gas projects. These reforms are the result of decades of community pressure and a movement that refuses to give up on people, nature and the places we love.
A few weeks ago, I stood on a hill in the Pilbara looking out over the North West Shelf gas plant.
Before I even saw it, I heard it.
The roar from the Karratha project carries for kilometres, and it is so loud that I had to shout to be heard.
It was a stark reminder of how broken our environment laws have been.
These are the laws that allowed ancient Murujuga rock art to be destroyed, koala habitat to be bulldozed, and companies like Woodside to remain under investigation while receiving new licences to pollute.
That is why the reforms we have just secured matter so much.
After years of campaigning and months of negotiations, the Greens have reached an agreement with the government to pass significantly improved environment laws.
These reforms protect native forests for the first time in decades, stop the fast tracking of coal and gas projects, close land clearing loopholes and save the Water Trigger.
These are outcomes that forest defenders, nature campaigners and local communities have fought for across generations. You can read more details here.
They were not handed to us, nor do they go far enough.
The latest diabolical pollution numbers show Australia is nowhere near meeting Labor’s supposed climate targets for pollution reduction, which is directly thanks to decisions like Labor’s approval of the North West Shelf gas project within two weeks of being re-elected.
We’ve stopped Labor’s plan to fast-track 30-day coal and gas approvals, but Labor point-blank refused to include a climate trigger because they are in bed with the fossil fuel industry.
That refusal shows how deeply corporate influence still shapes our politics.
But what we have secured shows what is possible when we hold firm.
The Greens negotiated hard and did not walk away from our values. The result is stronger protections for people, nature and the places we love.
At the same time, this week in the Senate, we saw a stark example of the forces resisting progress.
Pauline Hanson used a burqa to once again fuel racism and division. It was a sickening display, and almost the entire chamber condemned it.
It reminded me that the forces trying to drag our politics backwards are growing louder, and that we will need courage and clarity in the months ahead.
This weekend, we’ve launched our end-of-year appeal.
It gave me time to reflect on what we achieved together this year. Our movement stayed active, visible and grounded in truth, even through the most challenging of circumstances.
With your support, 18,600 people powered the largest campaign we have ever run. More than 20,000 volunteers knocked doors, made calls and had over 400,000 conversations. This is why our vote held strong. This is why we secured sole balance of power in the Senate.
This is why these environmental wins are now law.
We can see the far right rising around the world. We can see corporate money tightening its grip on government. The next election will be another test of courage. The work we do between now and then will decide what is possible.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who is part of this movement.
Thank you for your courage and for refusing to give up on what matters. I am more certain than ever that we are ready for the challenges ahead.