Bills — Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025; Second Reading

House of Representatives · 6 Nov 2025 · 15:59
Passed by a modest majority
89
Yes (ayes)
40
No (noes)
The question is that the bill be read a second time.

See it for yourself

This vote was on this bill. Read the official text:
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025
Government bill (Labor), introduced in the House
Portfolio: Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Read the law (PDF) ›
Act No. 66 of 2025 as passed, Federal Register of Legislation
Read the bill (PDF) ›
Bill as passed by both Houses, aph.gov.au
Explanatory memorandum (PDF) ›
The government's explanation of the bill, aph.gov.au
Official Hansard record (PDF) ›
House of Representatives, 6 Nov 2025. The division is at 15:59. Parliament of Australia
Official documents from aph.gov.au and legislation.gov.au, checked 21 October 2026.

What was debated in Parliament

Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This bill would set up a framework for general charges for certain activities linked to running the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The actual activities and amounts would be set later in regulations. The recorded debate is short and mostly procedural, with the bill passing the House after the question was put without further debate.
Arguments made in support
The minister said charges would be limited to what is needed to recover costs.
The minister said any charging arrangements would be consulted on before they were imposed.
3 speeches by 2 members in the House over 2 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 30 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 6 Nov 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Every recorded vote on Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025
›

How each party voted

Labor
84 Yes
0 No
10–
Liberal
0 Yes
14 No
3–
LNP
0 Yes
14 No
2–
Independent
4 Yes
5 No
1–
Nationals
0 Yes
6 No
2–
Centre Alliance
1 Yes
0 No
Greens
0 Yes
1 No
Katter
0 Yes
0 No
1–
The last column counts members who did not vote. Party counts are for current members.

No rebels

Every party member who voted went with the majority of their party.
Source: Hansard, House of Representatives, 6 Nov 2025
Parliament of Australia, via OpenAustralia Foundation · checked 14 October 2026