Attorney General George Brandis wants changes to the country's flagship environmental protection laws to prevent cases such as the recent decision to set aside approval for the Australia's largest coal mine.

Senator Brandis said he was "appalled" by the decision which was "very damaging to the economy".

"I'm conscious of just what a big deal this was," Senator Brandis told Sky News on Sunday morning.

Approval for Queensland's Carmichael coal mine was set aside earlier this month after the Federal Court ruled Environment Minister Greg Hunt had not properly considered advice about two threatened species - the yakka skink and the ornamental snake.