Australia’s New Nature Laws Could Be “Worthless” Without Key Fixes

Australia’s proposed environmental protection laws face sharp criticism from a leading economist who warns they could be undermined by poorly defined exemptions that developers might exploit.

Ken Henry, former Treasury Secretary and current head of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, argues that the legislation’s “national interest” exemption clause is too vague and could trigger what he calls “a conga line of developers” seeking special carve-outs from environmental protections. “Every project developer is absolutely convinced that their project is in the national interest,” Henry warned, highlighting the potential for abuse of these exemptions.

The Albanese government introduced the new nature laws to Parliament on Thursday as part of efforts to strengthen Australia’s environmental protections. While Henry supports the overall legislative package, he identifies critical flaws that need addressing before the laws can be effective. Beyond the problematic exemption language, he points to significant loopholes that would still allow native forest logging and land clearing to proceed with minimal oversight.

Henry’s concerns reflect broader debates about balancing economic development with environmental conservation in Australia. His critique suggests that without clearer guidelines defining what truly constitutes “national interest,” the new laws could fail to deliver the stronger environmental protections they promise. The government now faces pressure to tighten these provisions before the legislation moves forward, as environmental advocates worry that vague exemptions could render the entire framework ineffective in protecting Australia’s biodiversity and natural ecosystems.