The Northern Territory's four land councils representing Traditional Owners say they are "dismayed" at being excluded from consultations on proposed reforms to Australia's environment laws.
The Northern, Central, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa land councils have urged Environment Minister Murray Watt to include them in discussions ahead of the reforms, which are expected to be introduced to Parliament on Thursday.
In a joint statement, the councils said Labor's proposed changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act must ensure major projects face the most "stringent water and climate impact tests".
Tiwi Land Council chair Leslie Tungatalum said strong environmental protections are essential for the survival of both ecological and cultural values on the Tiwi Islands.
"Our islands are rich and unique in biodiversity. With fewer impacts from legacy land uses compared to the mainland, the islands and surrounding waters are havens for many species and ecological communities that need protection," he said.
"Strong national environmental standards are vital for the resilience of ecological systems across the islands to protect them."
The Albanese government will likely introduce legislation on Thursday, before immediately pushing for a 25-day parliamentary inquiry into its planned rewrite. This would report back in time for the bill to pass the Senate before Parliament comes together on 27 November.
"Every day of delay on these reforms is hurting our environment and costing business time and money," Senator Watt said.
"The Coalition and the Greens must decide whether or not they will back these important reforms or team up to delay them yet again. Will they put their own political gain ahead of the environment and business, or will they support our important laws.
Central Land Council acting CEO, Dr Josie Douglas, said the very survival of people on Country was at stake, warning that the forecasts for the Territory are "devastating" and that people are "living the impacts of climate change and water insecurity now".
"Our communities are becoming uninhabitable, and the NT's environment is also under pressure from thirsty development projects," Dr Douglas said.
"If now is not the time to heed our voices, when the federal government has unprecedented power and political capital, then when?"
She added that while the Voice referendum was defeated, there is "no excuse" not to listen to Indigenous people on "laws that are existential for our survival as Aboriginal peoples".
"So far, the debate on federal environment laws has been run as a closed shop between the large environment groups and industry. This has to stop. Our representative bodies must be heard now and engaged directly in the design of critical national environmental standards," Dr Douglas said.
"The Central Land Council called for this in its submissions to the federal environment department under former Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and in recent correspondence from the Central Land Council and Northern Land Council to Minister Murray Watt."
Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan said Aboriginal people hold legal rights and interests across 98 per cent of the NT and therefore "must be part of the conversation".
He said that despite the Land Councils' statutory role to consult Aboriginal people on projects affecting Country, they have "been ignored".
"We represent the people who live on Country," he said. "Our people need to prosper on our lands and our seas. We are the people who will be impacted directly by the proposed reforms to the EPBC Act."
The four organisations are calling for all projects with significant impacts on ground or surface water to undergo environmental assessment, and for projects with major greenhouse gas emissions to be evaluated for climate risk - a measure Mr Watt says will not be included in the reforms.
They also want the Minister to consult with them on the development of national environmental standards and ensure Aboriginal cultural values are embedded in regional development planning and project assessments - a process that would require land councils to consult with Traditional Owners at every stage.
"We call upon Minister Watt to ensure that land councils are part of the conversation going forward, and we welcome his indication that he is willing to consider amendments," Mr Ryan said.
