This bill disestablishes the Ministry for the Environment. The Government intends to consolidate the functions of the ministry, along with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Transport, and the local government functions of the Department of Internal Affairs, into a new ministry.

This bill amends the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 to streamline and improve application processes and pathways, support risk-proportionate decision-making and public participation, and enhance compliance, monitoring, and enforcement under the Act.