Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast Are Labor's environmental laws any good?
Nov 21, 2025
Geoff Lynn, a partner in environmental law at Ashurst with 25 years of experience, joins to dissect Labor's proposed environmental reforms. He shares insights on the National Environment Protection Agency and the new standards shaping assessments. Discussion includes challenges in the current approval process and the push for faster decisions. The debate over accreditation and the role of offsets versus local restoration adds depth, alongside criticisms from the Greens about the absence of a climate trigger. It's a critical analysis of legislation impacting environmental decision-making.
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EV Road‑Trip Charging Improved
- David Leitch reports a 2,300 km EV round trip and improved charging networks south of Sydney.
- He notes Tesla chargers remain restricted while BP Pulse and EV networks worked better.
New Federal Environmental Regulator
- The EPBC reform creates a new National Environment Protection Agency to administer and enforce federal environmental law.
- The EPA CEO will hold delegated ministerial functions but the Minister retains final say on major projects.
National Environmental Standards Introduced
- The bills introduce national environmental standards to guide assessments and approvals across matters of national environmental significance.
- Standards will set objectives and outcomes that decision-makers must consider when weighing project acceptability.