New Minister Murray Watt said legislative Federal Environmental Protection Agency legislation was a "high and direct" priority for the reelected Labor government, suggesting that he hopes natural laws will be passed quickly to avoid another political struggle.

In an early statement of intent, Watt will travel to Western Australia next week, where he intends to face-to-face with Prime Minister Roger Cook and mining industry leaders whose lobbying helped the proposed EPA last semester.

In his first interview with Guardian Australia, the Queensland Senator said he was also considering the "Nature Positive" title (EPBC) for Labour's broader reform of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC).

"I'm thinking about the type of language we use to describe these reforms," ​​Watt said.

“I think we can explain these concepts in a perspective that Australians can understand and buy, and I think that really improves our chances of building public support for them.”

The former Minister of Labor Relations was appointed last week to replace Tanya Plibersek, whose three years in the environmental mix were defined by failing to win support for the promised conservation law.

Watt's top priority was to decide on Woodside's application to expand its Northwest Shelf Gas Project to 2070 (to May 31), before turning his attention to restoring the EBPC Act.

The former class teacher of the labor class said it was “of course his intention” to make the ruling before the deadline, rather than seeking another extension.

Plibersek reached a deal with Greens in November to establish the EPA under pressure from Cook and Western Australia miners before the EPA was knocked down by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Albanese stepped in again in February, shelving legislation indefinitely, bringing the anger of environmental groups and grass-roots Labor members.

The Prime Minister suggested establishing a federal nature watchdog in election activities, but did not detach in some form a few weeks ago.

The government is committed to new talks with industry and environmental groups, and Watt will not draw on the possible design of EPA 2.0, including the choice of institutions that enforce natural laws but do not approve projects.

Albanese offers the model (which industry supports the part), a futile attempt to win league support last semester.

The EPA is only part of a broader "Natural Positive" program that also includes a set of national environmental standards that meets Graeme Samuel's recommendations in review of the EPBC bill.

After Plibersek separated the package in April last year, it placed the standard in the case of sending burner, and there was no implementation time.

Watt said he was willing to change courses and follow a large set of laws (including the EPA) rather than multiple divisions.

"Absolutely understandable, we reformed in a phased way before the election," he said. "I have a really open idea about it (a broader bill). It will have pros and cons, and it's one of the things I'm going to consider."

Watt has not yet formed a view on national environmental standards, but said “his intention is to carry out these reforms in the spirit of Graeme Samuel’s proposals”.

The new minister will not set a deadline for legislation, but says Labour wants to resolve the legislation outside the pre-election period.

"It's a very high and direct priority for the government," Watt said.

“That’s why on the first day of my job, I called all the key stakeholders to talk about this. That’s why I headed to WA next week…start these conversations.

“I do think that the near post-election is an ideal time to resolve complex, controversial reforms, and I want to take advantage of this opportunity to best impact.”

The minister insisted that he had called environmental groups such as environmental groups such as Greenpeace and the Australian Conservation Foundation and industry groups such as the Australian Mining Council.

Watt is willing to work with the opposition or the Greens to strengthen environmental law, while both sides are under new leadership after the election.

The new Green Party leader Larissa Waters urged the government to reaffirm the party’s “bold” position when banning Aboriginal Forrest logging and blocking new coal mines and gas fields.

Labor has ruled out a ban on local Forrest logging, but has pledged to apply national environmental standards to regional forestry agreements.

The government also has no plan to add "climate triggers" to environmental laws, and the resolute guarantee mechanism is an appropriate mechanism to regulate emissions from fossil fuel projects.

Watt welcomes Waters’ commitment to a “constructive” approach to labor.

"This (environmental reform) will be an ideal opportunity for her to prove that she takes this seriously," he said.