New Federal Nature Laws

Nature provides us with the air, water and soil we depend on, the animals we love, and the places we enjoy. For nature to thrive, it needs to be protected.

We did it! After our decade-long campaign, Real protections for nature passed the Senate as Labor and the Greens made a deal on 27th and 28th of November this year. Our new Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 2025 provides much needed stronger protection for nature. This is an unprecedented win for nature, won through grassroot communities coming together. Now, we must continue to apply pressure to ensure the positive reforms are enacted and loopholes are pushed back on to ensure our national laws protect nature for future generations.

Let's get things right for nature, please check below and take action today!

Take Urgent Action Now!

Make a Submission around the proposed draft National Environment Standards

As part of the new reforms, the Environment Minister can make National Environmental Standards - a key recommendation from the 2020 Samuel Review. These standards will give businesses clear rules to follow and make sure decisions are made fairly and consistently. Consultation is now open on 2 proposed draft standards (submissions close 30th January 2026) - Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and Environmental Offsets.

Put in a submission to help protect vulnerable resources we depend on and our threatened species

Engage your local Federal MP

Every approach a constituent makes with their local MP must be recorded and reported to the MP and their party. Show Queenslanders across the board demand strong nature protection by engaging with your local MP, and sharing with your family, friends and networks.

You can help stand up for nature: email your MP and the Environment Minister

We've made it easy with a pre-filled message, but it's even better if you can edit it to reflect who you are and why you care.

CC: Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt
I love nature and value the many benefits that nature provides. Healthy nature is the foundation of a thriving economy and our communities rely on it for clean air, water, recreation, tourism and food production.
I want to see a future where nature thrives. However, the laws that are meant to protect nature are failing.
The current Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act is barely monitored, rarely enforced and full of loopholes allowing businesses to destroy nature.
Since Australia's national environment protection law took effect 20 years ago, more than seven million hectares of threatened species habitat has been destroyed. In his independent review of the Act, Professor Graeme Samuel AC put forward 38 recommendations in October 2020 and we are yet to see any of those fully implemented.
The consequences of such grand scale destruction are huge. Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world and Queensland has the highest rates of deforestation in the nation, with over 300,000 hectares of forest and woodland bulldozed each year.
Nature laws can supercharge clean energy and help get it right. With strong protections in place, we can roll out renewables faster, in the right places, and in the right way.
We urge you to support strong new nature laws that will crack down on the record high deforestation rates and protect the nature we love. Will you support the reforms and push for strengthened regulations that protect nature?
The EPBC reforms need to deliver:
<ul>
<li>Strong upfront protections for nature</li>
<li>An independent environmental protection agency</li>
<li>An end to deforestation, especially in Great Barrier Reef catchments</li>
<li>Protection from climate harm</li>
</ul>

Email opt in

By taking this action, you agree to receive emails from QCC. You can opt-out at any time.

Post on social media

Create your own post or share one of the below images with a message to your federal MP and Environment Minister Murray Watt

Tag the Environment Minister

Example messages

"We need strong new nature laws that protect forests and wildlife because..."
"You must protect threatened species like... before it's too late"
"This is your chance to introduce strong new laws that will protect nature for future generations"

Download an image to share on social media

About us

Our Campaigns

Giving

Get involved