The federal parliament has returned for the final sitting week of the year, with the Albanese government yet to secure the Senate numbers it needs to pass the proposed changes.
"Be under no illusions, we are going to pass these laws this week, and it's going to happen with either the coalition or the Greens," Environment Minister Murray Watt told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
"Whichever of those parties is prepared to come to us soonest with a package of amendments that is acceptable to us, that is who we will be passing these bills with.
"So, they have an important choice to make about whether they want to be part of this process and work with us cooperatively or whether they want to sit on the sidelines complaining and see us do a deal with the opposite party."
In a bid to win over the Greens, Labor promised tougher rules on native forest logging which would still go ahead under the legislation, in addition to scrapping a provision allowing coal and gas projects to bypass environmental approvals.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said a three-year transitional period for native logging was far too long, calling on the government to come back with a shorter period.
Senator Hanson-Young also expressed a desire to strike an agreement before parliament broke for the year.
"If the government won't come to the party and fix it (the bill) this week, then I put to the minister, let's work over summer," she said.
"Let's roll up our sleeves. We can work over summer to get this done."
The coalition has been offered changes to limit stop work orders on construction, and wants a requirement for projects to report carbon emissions to be dumped.
Opposition environment spokeswoman Angie Bell said the coalition was "not in a rush to fail" and wanted to work constructively.
"The ball is in the minister's court," she told ABC radio.
Senator Watt said based on negotiations at the weekend, he was very confident in landing an agreement.
"We are prepared to make some further concessions in order to pass these laws, because it's not in anyone's interests for us to hang on to the current laws that we've got at the moment, which are completely broken," he said.
Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said the group's focus was on working with the coalition and Labor to ensure an agreement.
"That's so very important, because at the end of the day, these reforms have to have longevity, and you get longevity when it's the two major parties of the government working together," he said.
Independent senator David Pocock said it was clear from consultation "substantial changes" were needed to better protect the environment while providing certainty for business.
"We have a once-in-a-generation chance to get these reforms right, and I urge the government to listen to the feedback and take the time to ensure that these laws actually do what is promised," he said.
The Centre for Public Integrity said with trust in government at an all-time low, bypassing scrutiny and public input would only further undermine confidence in the process.
"These reforms are extensive and highly technical, amending an already complex statutory environment, yet there is no publicly available evidence that adequate public consultation was undertaken," the centre said.
Nationals leader David Littleproud questioned the government's haste to pass the legislation, saying it should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
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