The clock is ticking for the states and territories to agree to take on environmental assessments as ministers meet in Brisbane to thrash out details.
The federal government passed reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in late 2025, which included streamlining environmental approval processes by giving sole responsibility to the states and territories.
Environment Minister Murray Watt said having one government, rather than two, conduct these assessments will speed up the approval of important projects without falling short of standards.
“These landmark reforms are protecting our environment while speeding up decision-making, to ensure Australia has the crucial housing, renewables and critical minerals projects it needs,” he said in a statement.
Western Australia and New South Wales are the only jurisdictions to formalise a bilateral agreement so far.
Without the broad support of the states and territories nearly one year on, federal Labor has set a deadline of mid-2027 to reach consensus.
“I congratulate NSW and WA with being frontrunners, making sure they are fast movers on getting decisions in their states made better and faster,” Mr Watt said.
“We’re working with other states and territories to move towards faster, more efficient environmental approvals across the nation.”
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli was a vocal opponent to the reforms in November just prior to them passing parliament, labelling the move “disastrous with the capital D”.
The prime minister announced more than $45 million dollars over the next four years to progress the environmental bilateral agreements in April.
The impending stoush in Brisbane comes after weeks of debate over new national standards for artificial intelligence infrastructure which would see developers required to provide their own renewable energy.
Queensland and the Northern Territory appeared to receive a carve-out from mandates for centres to provide their own renewable energy, allowing for sites in those jurisdictions to be powered by coal and gas.
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen later clarified states and territories will have to prove they can find a cheaper source of power if they want to comply with the proposed federal laws.
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