Rushed scrutiny of a large package
Coalition, crossbench and One Nation criticism said Parliament was being asked to consider a very large and complex package too quickly, while committee scrutiny was still expected later.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition)
Current status
This bill became law on Dec 1st, 2025.
Policy area
Climate, energy & environment
What does this bill do?
The Act lets regulationsDetailed legal rules made under an Act. In this Act, regulations can set the matters charged, the charge amounts or calculation methods, and exemptions. impose excise-duty charges for prescribed matters connected with administering the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999Australia's main national environment law. This Act creates an excise-charge framework connected with administering that law..
Why was it introduced?
The bill was introduced to support the wider EPBC reform package by giving the Commonwealth a way to impose excise-duty charges for EPBC administration where cost recoveryA charging approach where government charges are designed to recover the cost of providing or regulating an activity, rather than to raise extra revenue. is needed. The explanatory memorandum says charge amounts would be set later by regulation, limited to likely Commonwealth costs, and separated into general, customs and excise charging laws because of section 55 of the ConstitutionA constitutional rule requiring laws imposing customs duties, excise duties and other taxes to be dealt with separately..
Broader context
This excise charging law is a narrow cost-recovery piece of the larger 2025 rewrite of national environment laws. The broader reform followed the Samuel review of the EPBC ActAustralia's main national environment law. This Act creates an excise-charge framework connected with administering that law. and was debated mainly over environmental standards, approval speed, the new national environment regulator, climate, forestry and land-clearing rules. This Act does not set those policy tests itself; it creates the excise-charge framework that can support administration of the reformed EPBC system.
Key criticism
Direct criticism of this excise charging bill was limited because most debate treated it as one part of a much larger environment reform package. Critics focused on rushed scrutiny, possible green tape and project uncertainty, while Greens and some crossbench speakers argued the wider package still did not go far enough on climate, First Nations consent, forestry or land clearing.
Who supported it?
Mr Tony Burke introduced the bill in the House on behalf of the government. introduced this bill.
Introduced in House 30 Oct 2025
Passed House 06 Nov 2025
Passed Senate 27 Nov 2025 Aye 32 No 20
Became law 01 Dec 2025
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 01 Dec 2025
Final passage
Recorded final vote
1 counted final-passage vote was recorded.
Passage speed
32 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
-
The Act lets regulationsDetailed legal rules made under an Act. In this Act, regulations can set the matters charged, the charge amounts or calculation methods, and exemptions. impose excise-duty charges for prescribed matters connected with administering the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999Australia's main national environment law. This Act creates an excise-charge framework connected with administering that law..
-
It is one of three linked charging laws. Separate general, customs and excise laws were used because section 55 of the ConstitutionA constitutional rule requiring laws imposing customs duties, excise duties and other taxes to be dealt with separately. requires different kinds of taxation to be dealt with separately.
-
The Act does not set the activities or dollar amounts. Those details can be set later by regulationsDetailed legal rules made under an Act. In this Act, regulations can set the matters charged, the charge amounts or calculation methods, and exemptions., either as a fixed amount or by a calculation method.
-
Before a charge is prescribed, the Minister must be satisfied it is designed to recover no more than the Commonwealth is likely to spend on the relevant matter.
-
Regulations can also create exemptions from an excise charge, and the related Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 supplies the authority to collect and recover charges under the EPBC ActAustralia's main national environment law. This Act creates an excise-charge framework connected with administering that law..
Show source excerpts
-
The regulations may prescribe a charge in relation to a prescribed matter connected with the administration of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or regulations made under that Act.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Act 2025 final Act text -
Three separate Charging Bills are required because section 55 of the Constitution requires that matters of excise, customs and other taxation that is neither excise nor customs are to be dealt with in separate Acts.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) explanatory memorandum -
The regulations may prescribe a charge under subsection 7(1): (a) by specifying an amount as the charge; or (b) by specifying a method for calculating the amount of the charge.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Act 2025 final Act text -
Before the Governor-General makes a regulation under subsection 7(1) prescribing a charge in relation to a matter, the Minister must be satisfied that the amount of the charge is set at a level that is designed to recover no more than the Commonwealth's likely costs in connection with the matter.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Act 2025 final Act text -
Authority to collect and recover charges imposed under the Charging Bills will be provided by proposed amendments to the EPBC Act in the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
This excise charging law is a narrow cost-recovery piece of the larger 2025 rewrite of national environment laws. The broader reform followed the Samuel review of the EPBC ActAustralia's main national environment law. This Act creates an excise-charge framework connected with administering that law. and was debated mainly over environmental standards, approval speed, the new national environment regulator, climate, forestry and land-clearing rules. This Act does not set those policy tests itself; it creates the excise-charge framework that can support administration of the reformed EPBC system.
- 2020
Samuel review sets the reform backdrop
Speakers described Professor Graeme Samuel's independent EPBC ActAustralia's main national environment law. This Act creates an excise-charge framework connected with administering that law. review as the reform blueprint the government was responding to five years later.
House and Senate debate ↗ - 30 Oct 2025
Charging bills introduced with EPBC reforms
The excise charging bill was introduced alongside the wider Environment Protection Reform package and the companion general and customs charging bills.
APH bill page and explanatory memorandum ↗ - 30 Oct 2025
Senate committee receives the package
The APH notes record referral to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, with a report date listed for 2 April 2026, although the bill later passed before that date.
APH bill page notes ↗ - 04 Nov 2025
House debate focuses on the wider package
Supporters argued the reforms would modernise outdated national environment law, while critics warned about rushed scrutiny, regulatory burden and unresolved climate and nature-protection concerns.
House second reading debate ↗ - 27 Nov 2025
Senate considers package-wide amendments
The Senate Journal records votes on Greens, government, Opposition, One Nation and crossbench amendments during consideration of the environment reform bills, while this charging bill's final text remained unchanged.
Senate Journal ↗ - 01 Dec 2025
Excise charging Act receives Royal AssentThe formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act.
Royal AssentThe formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. turned the bill into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Act 2025.
APH progress table and final law metadata ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 30 Oct 2025
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 30 Oct 2025
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (02/04/2026) review 30 Oct 2025
The bill was referred to Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (02/04/2026).
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesSecond reading debate 04 Nov 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate 05 Nov 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate 06 Nov 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House second reading agreed Aye 88 No 40 06 Nov 2025
Recorded vote: 88 to 40.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
House third reading agreed 06 Nov 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 24 Nov 2025
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 24 Nov 2025
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 27 Nov 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate second reading agreed Aye 35 No 24 27 Nov 2025
Recorded vote: 35 to 24.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Committee of the WholeA Senate stage where senators examine and vote on detailed amendments to a bill. debate 27 Nov 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate third reading agreed Aye 32 No 20 27 Nov 2025
Recorded vote: 32 to 20.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 27 Nov 2025
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Assent 01 Dec 2025
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
Direct criticism of this excise charging bill was limited because most debate treated it as one part of a much larger environment reform package. Critics focused on rushed scrutiny, possible green tape and project uncertainty, while Greens and some crossbench speakers argued the wider package still did not go far enough on climate, First Nations consent, forestry or land clearing.
The narrow charging bill mainly creates a cost-recovery framework. The local record does not show a substantive amendment to this Act itself; the main disputes were about the broader EPBC reform package considered with it.
Green tape and project uncertainty
Coalition and Nationals speakers warned that the wider package could add regulatory burden, legal risk and delay for farmers, resources, housing, forestry and regional communities.
Climate and nature safeguards still incomplete
Greens and some crossbench speakers said the package needed stronger climate, First Nations, forestry, offsets and land-clearing safeguards, even where they supported or negotiated improvements.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The chamber-passage votes come first. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
Passed House passed the bill
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
House passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Carried Senate passed the bill
Passed 32 to 20. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and One Nation. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Carried
Senate passed the bill
Party Aye / No
Labor 19 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 17
Greens 10 / 0
Independent 1 / 1
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Nationals 0 / 1
One Nation 0 / 1
Unknown 1 / 0
Earlier bill-stage votes
Carried House cleared second reading
Passed 88 to 40. Support came from Labor. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and Greens. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Carried
House cleared second reading
Party Aye / No
Labor 81 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 22
Nationals 0 / 11
Independent 4 / 4
Unknown 3 / 2
Greens 0 / 1
Carried Senate cleared second reading
Passed 35 to 24. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and One Nation. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Carried
Senate cleared second reading
Party Aye / No
Labor 22 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 17
Greens 10 / 0
Nationals 0 / 3
One Nation 0 / 3
Independent 1 / 1
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Unknown 1 / 0
Amendments at a glance
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
Senate
Defeated Call for First Nations consent standard
Defeated 13 to 35. Support came from Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, and Nationals.
Defeated
Call for First Nations consent standard
The vote rejected a Greens statement on First Nations consent before the Senate moved on.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 26
Greens 10 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 4
One Nation 0 / 3
Independent 2 / 0
Nationals 0 / 2
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Defeated Narrow unacceptable impact tests
Moved by Jonathon Duniam (Liberal Party). Defeated 19 to 34. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and One Nation. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents.
Defeated
Narrow unacceptable impact tests
The vote rejected an Opposition attempt to narrow when serious environmental impacts would block action.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 20
Liberal Party 17 / 0
Greens 0 / 10
Independent 0 / 2
Australia's Voice 0 / 1
Nationals 1 / 0
One Nation 1 / 0
Unknown 0 / 1
Defeated Criticise scrutiny and climate gaps
Defeated 4 to 44. Support came from Australia's Voice and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Liberal Party, and One Nation.
Defeated
Criticise scrutiny and climate gaps
The vote rejected most of a crossbench criticism of the package.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 26
Greens 0 / 10
Liberal Party 0 / 4
One Nation 0 / 3
Independent 2 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Nationals 0 / 1
Unknown 1 / 0
Defeated Refer bills to Senate inquiry
Defeated 27 to 33. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Greens.
Defeated
Refer bills to Senate inquiry
The vote rejected delaying passage for further committee inquiry.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 23
Liberal Party 17 / 0
Greens 0 / 10
Nationals 3 / 0
One Nation 3 / 0
Independent 2 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Unknown 1 / 0
Defeated Opposition approval and nuclear changes
Defeated 20 to 33. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and One Nation. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Defeated
Opposition approval and nuclear changes
The vote rejected a broader Opposition package on approvals, net gain and nuclear provisions.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 20
Liberal Party 17 / 0
Greens 0 / 10
Independent 1 / 1
Australia's Voice 0 / 1
Nationals 1 / 0
One Nation 1 / 0
Unknown 0 / 1
Defeated Question undefined environment standards
Moved by Roberts (One Nation). Defeated 3 to 39. Support came from One Nation. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Liberal Party, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents.
Defeated
Question undefined environment standards
The vote rejected One Nation’s statement of concerns about the package.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 22
Greens 0 / 10
Liberal Party 0 / 3
One Nation 3 / 0
Independent 0 / 2
Australia's Voice 0 / 1
Nationals 0 / 1
Defeated Delay debate until March 2026
Defeated 26 to 33. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Greens. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Defeated
Delay debate until March 2026
The vote rejected postponing the package until 2026.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 22
Liberal Party 17 / 0
Greens 0 / 10
Nationals 3 / 0
One Nation 3 / 0
Independent 1 / 1
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Unknown 1 / 0
Carried Add Greens forest and fossil-fuel safeguards
Passed 33 to 19. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and One Nation.
Carried
Add Greens forest and fossil-fuel safeguards
This was the major counted vote adopting Greens changes to the broader environment package.
Party Aye / No
Labor 20 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 17
Greens 10 / 0
Independent 2 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Nationals 0 / 1
One Nation 0 / 1
Defeated Pocock forestry and climate safeguards
Defeated 4 to 35. Support came from Australia's Voice and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Liberal Party, and One Nation.
Defeated
Pocock forestry and climate safeguards
The vote rejected a crossbench package focused on forestry, fossil fuels and climate duty.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 20
Greens 0 / 10
Liberal Party 0 / 4
Independent 2 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
One Nation 0 / 1
Unknown 1 / 0
Defeated Pocock clearing and transparency changes
Moved by Tyrrell. Defeated 5 to 35. Support came from Australia's Voice, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, and Liberal Party.
Defeated
Pocock clearing and transparency changes
The vote rejected a crossbench package on clearing, transparency and restoration charges.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 20
Greens 0 / 10
Liberal Party 0 / 5
Independent 2 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
One Nation 1 / 0
Unknown 1 / 0
Defeated Auditor-General reviews of NEPA
Defeated 22 to 31. Support came from Liberal Party, Australia's Voice, Nationals, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Greens. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Defeated
Auditor-General reviews of NEPA
The vote rejected an Opposition attempt to strengthen external review of the new agency.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 20
Liberal Party 17 / 0
Greens 0 / 10
Independent 1 / 1
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Nationals 1 / 0
One Nation 1 / 0
Unknown 1 / 0
Carried Extend controlled-action lapse dates
Government amendments allowed the minister to extend when a decision that an action is not a controlled action lapses; they were carried on voices.
Carried
Extend controlled-action lapse dates
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Carried Tighten orders and impact tests
Government amendments dealt with environment protection order duration and tightened unacceptable-impact criteria; they were carried on voices.
Carried
Tighten orders and impact tests
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Carried Restrict exclusion determinations
Greens amendments narrowed when exclusion determinations can remove actions from existing declarations or agreements; they were carried on voices.
Carried
Restrict exclusion determinations
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Defeated First Nations heritage protections
Lidia Thorpe’s amendments on a First Nations standard, cultural heritage, sacred sites and UNDRIP rights were defeated on voices.
Defeated
First Nations heritage protections
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Tony Burke
Tony Burke introduced the bill as the excise charging part of the environment reform package, saying charges would be set by regulation, limited to cost recoveryA charging approach where government charges are designed to recover the cost of providing or regulating an activity, rather than to raise extra revenue. and consulted on before imposition.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead opposing voice Opposes
Jonathon Duniam
Jonathon Duniam opposed the wider environment package, arguing it was being rushed through after a Labor-Greens deal and would harm forestry, resources, housing and energy projects.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead non-major voice Unclear
Kate Chaney
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Katy Gallagher
Katy Gallagher moved the second reading in the Senate for the wider package and incorporated speeches explaining the related environmental reform bills.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
25 speakers · 5 support · 20 unclear
Labor
25 speakers · 5 support · 20 unclear
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Katy Gallagher ★ Katy Gallagher moved the second reading in the Senate for the wider package and incorporated speeches explaining the related environmental reform bills.
“I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and move: That these bills be now read a second time.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Renee Coffey No summary available.
-
Tom French No summary available.
-
Kate Thwaites No summary available.
-
Jo Briskey No summary available.
-
Ged Kearney No summary available.
-
Louise Miller-Frost No summary available.
-
Julie-Ann Campbell No summary available.
-
Michelle Ananda-Rajah Michelle Ananda-Rajah supported the package as long-awaited reform, saying it improved protections for nature while creating clearer rules for housing and renewable-energy projects.
“This is meaningful reform for our nation and for this parliament, and it is vindication of those decades of work.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Trish Cook No summary available.
-
Anthony Albanese No summary available.
-
Carol Berry No summary available.
-
Josh Burns No summary available.
-
Emma Comer No summary available.
-
Libby Coker No summary available.
-
Gabriel Ng No summary available.
-
Zaneta Mascarenhas No summary available.
-
Susan Templeman No summary available.
-
Sharon Claydon No summary available.
-
Matt Smith No summary available.
-
Sally Sitou No summary available.
-
Ali France No summary available.
-
Ellie Whiteaker Ellie Whiteaker supported the package as overdue reform responding to the Samuel review, saying it would improve protection while giving clearer decisions for business.
“This bill, the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025, responds to Professor Graeme Samuel's independent review of the EPBC Act.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jenny McAllister Jenny McAllister supported the package, arguing it would deliver a national environment protection agency, national environmental standards and stronger penalties.
“For the first time, Australia will have a national environment protection agency. For the first time, Australia will have national environmental standards.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Tony Burke ★ Tony Burke introduced the bill as the excise charging part of the environment reform package, saying charges would be set by regulation, limited to cost recoveryA charging approach where government charges are designed to recover the cost of providing or regulating an activity, rather than to raise extra revenue. and consulted on before imposition.
“The charges imposed under these bills will be limited to those charges (and amounts of charges) necessary for cost recovery purposes.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
17 speakers · 18 contributions · 3 oppose · 14 unclear
Coalition
17 speakers · 18 contributions · 3 oppose · 14 unclear
-
Julian Leeser No summary available.
-
Jonathon Duniam ★ Jonathon Duniam opposed the wider environment package, arguing it was being rushed through after a Labor-Greens deal and would harm forestry, resources, housing and energy projects.
“What a great opportunity this is to have a little bit of scrutiny of the legislation that is before the chamber, which will now be rammed through in record time.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Tim Wilson No summary available.
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Ben Small No summary available.
-
Melissa Price No summary available.
-
Barnaby Joyce No summary available.
-
Mary Aldred No summary available.
-
Simon Kennedy No summary available.
-
Susan McDonald Susan McDonald opposed the package, saying it was being guillotined through a rushed Labor-Greens deal and would hurt farmers, foresters, fishers and regional jobs.
“Today is an incredibly shameful day. It is shameful for democracy in this country - the guillotining of legislation that is so critical.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Anne Webster No summary available.
-
Andrew Willcox No summary available.
-
Michael McCormack No summary available.
-
Andrew Wallace No summary available.
-
Michelle Landry No summary available.
-
Leon Rebello 2 contributions No summary available.
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Leon Rebello on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗ -
Jamie Chaffey No summary available.
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Matt O'Sullivan Matt O'Sullivan opposed the wider package, saying the Senate was being asked to pass amendments without enough time to test their effect on Western Australian projects.
“We could not possibly even have a test of what unacceptable impacts is going to mean. We could not possibly know what this is actually going to do.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Greens
4 speakers · 3 mixed · 1 unclear
Greens
4 speakers · 3 mixed · 1 unclear
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Larissa Waters Larissa Waters supported the negotiated package as an improvement for forests, land clearing, water protection and fossil-fuel fast tracks, while saying it still fell short on climate and First Nations consent.
“We did not get everything we wanted in these negotiations, but new protections for native forests... are a significant step forward for nature.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Sarah Hanson-Young Sarah Hanson-Young supported the package because the Greens had secured stronger protections for native forests, bushland and wildlife, while noting climate reforms remained incomplete.
“We did not get everything we wanted in these negotiations. You never do. There is always give and take.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Elizabeth Watson-Brown No summary available.
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Steph Hodgins-May Steph Hodgins-May supported the negotiated package as stronger than Labor first proposed, while arguing it still failed to properly protect the climate.
“They are stronger than what Labor first put on the table... But let me be equally direct: these significant but small wins for nature are not the wins we need for our precious climate.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Minor parties and independents
6 speakers · 6 unclear
Minor parties and independents
6 speakers · 6 unclear
-
Kate Chaney ★ No summary available.
-
Allegra Spender No summary available.
-
Sophie Scamps No summary available.
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Helen Haines No summary available.
-
Nicolette Boele No summary available.
-
Bob Katter No summary available.
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Act 2025
- Act number
- Act No. 65, 2025
- Became law
- 01 Dec 2025
- Takes effect
-
- Sections 1 and 2 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table 02 Dec 2025
- Sections 3 to 10 A day or days to be fixed by one or more Proclamations
- Registered
- 02 Dec 2025
- Administered by
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH progress table; commencement rows were parsed from the bill text.
- Status
- Act -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 30 Oct 2025
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 30 Oct 2025
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 04 Nov 2025
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 05 Nov 2025
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 06 Nov 2025
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 06 Nov 2025
House · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 88 to 40.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 06 Nov 2025
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 24 Nov 2025
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 24 Nov 2025
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 27 Nov 2025
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 27 Nov 2025
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 35 to 24.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 27 Nov 2025
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the WholeA Senate stage where senators examine and vote on detailed amendments to a bill. debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 27 Nov 2025
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 32 to 20.
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 27 Nov 2025
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 01 Dec 2025
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (02/04/2026)
Referred to committee
The bill was referred to Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (02/04/2026).
Referred to Committee (30 Oct 2025): Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (2 Apr 2026)
APH bill page notes