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

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