"Join me on the dance floor! " This was Environment Minister Murray Watt's call to the opposition as he moved ahead with his modifications to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
"Yes, rise and boogie! " This was the business sector's clear signal to the Coalition.
However, they could not, or would not, find common ground with the government on agreeable actions.
In contrast, the Greens were able to and did so.
They achieved victories regarding concessions on logging of native forests and land clearing, as well as the exclusion of fossil fuel projects from the expedited approval pathway.
At last, after a span of over five years, the EPBC task was complete.
Watt consistently expressed his willingness to collaborate with either the Coalition or the Greens.
The opposition is presenting various justifications, claiming that the legislation was hastily prepared, but the fundamental truth is that the Liberals fell short on a crucial evaluation.
This is particularly frustrating considering Ley, as the environment minister, initiated the independent assessment from Graeme Samuel that formed the basis for this legislation, which was reported in 2020.
The suggestion that the comprehensive legislation should be postponed until next year may seem appealing at first glance, but it is fundamentally flawed.
The situation has gone on for too long, and further procrastination would only lead to more complications.
The government asserted that the opposition was disorganized in its discussions, including introducing new requests as recently as Wednesday.
Among the Coalition's negotiators, Jonno Duniam, who manages opposition business in the Senate, appeared, according to Labor insiders, the most eager to finalize an agreement.
Just a week prior, Duniam had been quite assured that a Coalition-government deal was on the horizon.
In recent weeks, Duniam joined the negotiations to assist Angie Bell, the shadow environment minister.
Originally from Tasmania and part of the conservative faction of the Liberals, Duniam is currently the home affairs spokesperson but has previously held the role of shadow environment minister.
During the Morrison administration, he served as the assistant minister for forestry and fisheries, working under then-agriculture minister and Nationals leader David Littleproud.
He was well-liked within the Littleproud office.
"He took care of the tasks Littleproud wanted to avoid," remarked an observer from that period.
It's not only the business community that would have preferred a partnership with the Coalition. Western Australian Labor Premier Roger Cook stated on Thursday:
He mentioned that if businesses encounter issues with the laws, they should direct their grievances not to the government or the Greens, but rather to the opposition.
This reform marks a significant success for a government whose leftist critics are urging it to adopt more progressive changes, although it fails to meet the demands of those with a strict stance on fossil fuels.
It is expected to substantially accelerate decision-making for development initiatives and enhance environmental safeguards.
This is a remarkable personal accomplishment for Watt, a practical member from Queensland representing the left, recognized as one of the top ministers in the government.
During this final sitting week of 2025, Watt demonstrated his commitment to advancing the legislation, engaged in extensive consultations, conducted persistent negotiations, and maintained a relatively open approach.
He collaborated closely with the Prime Minister, who joined the talks in the final phases to ensure an agreeable resolution for all parties and enable swift passage through the Senate.
While Watt could enjoy the fruits of his labor, two of his peers – Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen – have ended the parliamentary term under considerable strain.
As Chalmers gets ready for the budget update slated for mid-next month, the recent rise in inflation to 3.8 percent year-on-year to October not only highlights that home buyers won’t see any interest rate reductions in the near future but also hints that the next move could potentially be an increase instead of a decrease.
Chalmers is finding it challenging to manage government expenditures for the upcoming budget. This will impact the public sector – which has just been instructed to make cuts – as well as likely other segments.
Overall spending levels are too high, and tough choices must be made early in the term.
Compounding Chalmers’ difficulties are demands for the mid-year update to prolong assistance on electricity bills, given the elevated energy prices. Chalmers indicates that no decision has been reached yet.
In the forthcoming months, Bowen is expected to experience significant political pressure similar to that faced by Chalmers.
The opposition has focused its criticism on him in Parliament following the Australian government’s negotiated agreement with Turkey regarding next year’s United Nations climate conference (COP), which will see Bowen appointed as the lead negotiator as a form of consolation.
The opposition refers to him as the “part-time” energy minister – however, Bowen asserts that the COP responsibilities can easily be integrated with his existing ministerial duties. He was eager to highlight that most recent COP negotiators held full ministerial roles as well.
Within the government ranks, there is a cautious outlook on how Bowen will manage the dual responsibilities, particularly as he faces skepticism from some within Labor.
While the added workload raises valid concerns – especially in light of challenges surrounding energy transition and the political dilemma of power tariffs – the government argues that this arrangement is only temporary, lasting just one year.
As Parliament concluded its sessions, a ceremony took place to unveil the official portrait of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, attended by guests like former Liberal ministers Julie Bishop, George Brandis, and Christopher Pyne.
Naturally, Turnbull expressed sharp criticism regarding the opposition's handling of the environmental legislation, stating to journalists, “the Coalition had the chance to be proactive, but they opted out. […] the few allies they still possess in the business sector will undoubtedly be appalled. ”
Ley rushed in for the customary handshake with the individual under whose department she worked, and then stepped down due to an issue related to a travel reimbursement claim.
It was, predictably, Barnaby Joyce who stole the spotlight, as he formally declared to Parliament his exit from the Nationals.
In a bid for relevance, the independent figure is viewed as potentially heading toward One Nation, albeit at a leisurely pace and for now remaining an independent.
With the scent of authority enticing him, Joyce is expected to run for the Senate as a candidate for One Nation.
There, he mentioned that they would need to approach him regarding every piece of legislation and ask, ‘what are your opinions? ’. I’ve been in the Senate before – for eight years, seven months, and one day. I fully understand the responsibilities of the role. ”
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