Labor Unveils $45 Million Plan to Speed Up Environmental Project Approvals

Labor plans to delegate more environmental assessment powers to states and territories to reduce the regulatory burden on project developers.

An aerial view of the a solar farm in Dubbo, Australia, on Jan. 19, 2026. Gregory Plesse/AFP via Getty Images

The federal Labor government has announced a new plan to delegate more environmental assessment powers to states and territories in a bid to fast-track housing, energy, and resource project approvals.

Under the plan, Labor will invest more than $45 million (US$32 million) over four years in administrative and regulatory reforms to support new bilateral agreements between the federal and state governments.