The Streamlining Environmental Approvals Bill was passed in the House of Representatives on Thursday after being introduced by Ms Ley in her role as Environment Minister.

The changes to the national environment protection laws pave the way for states to take over approvals, but the set of national environment standards they must abide by have not yet been developed.

Indi MP Helen Haines was one of the MPs who wanted to speak on Parliament about the legislation, but was stopped from doing so ahead of a final vote before the Parliament not only finished for the day, but went into a break until October.

She turned to Twitter that evening to take aim at her fellow Border MP and the Prime Minister. "Australia! take a look at what's happening to democracy in House of Representatives. @ScottMorrisonMP @sussanley not allowing members to debate on the bill nor debate or vote on genuine amendments from MPs," she said.

Speaking to Border media on Friday, Dr Haines said every MP should always have the right to make a speech on a bill before Parliament and suggest amendments to improve the legislation.

"That was extremely poor form that we didn't get to do that on a piece of legislation that is important to so many people across Australia and was contentious for many people. I think debate should have continued," she said.

"That diminished our democracy and that diminishes our formulation of really good policy.

"It certainly silences the voices of everyday people whose elected representative goes into the Parliament to speak."

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Dr Haines said it was "fascinating" the government had not introduced legislation for a federal integrity commission 21 months after it was promised, but the Thursday's environment bill "was so urgent that it had to be rushed through under the cover of darkness on the very last sitting day before we resume in October".

The environment protection changes are in response to an interim review conducted by former competition watchdog Graeme Samuel, but his final report has is not finished.

Ms Ley, who had provided Dr Haines with a briefing on the legislation before the it was introduced, responded to the allegations of shutting down debate by saying it was "a day of cynical misrepresentation in the House" by the Labor Party.

She said environmental approvals by the states "will reduce regulatory burden, promote economic activity and create certainty around environmental protections".

"The bill includes minor technical amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. They are the start of a process that is entirely consistent with Professor Graeme Samuel's interim report and his findings in relation to an Act that is long overdue for reform," she said.

"The government will continue to work with both Labor and Liberal states and territories to deliver environmental reform that everyone agrees is necessary."

The bill was intended to be introduced this fortnight, before time was lost due to COVID-19 restrictions.