Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) is the Australian Government's central piece of environmental legislation. It provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places — defined in the Act as matters of national environmental significance. More about the EPBC Act

1 July 2009

Grassy eucalypt woodland of the Victorian volcanic plain

The grassy eucalypt woodland of the Victorian volcanic plain has been added to the list of threatened ecological communities.

29 June 2009

Independent review of the EPBC Act: release of interim report

This report outlines the major themes raised in public submissions, the consultation process and the Senate committee inquiry. The report is open for public comment, closing 3 August 2009.

25 June 2009

New ecological community listing: Lowland native grasslands of Tasmania

The lowland native grasslands of Tasmania have been listed as a critically endangered ecological community.

24 June 2009

Desalination plant approved with strict conditions

The federal environment department has given conditional approval to the Southern Seawater Desalination Project at Binningup.

22 June 2009

Black-throated finch policy statement

Significant impact guidelines for the black-throated finch (southern) (Poephila cincta cincta). Comments close 17 July 2009.

22 May 2009

Tasmanian devil listed as an endangered species

The Tasmanian devil has been given increased threatened status under national environment law.

19 May 2009

Announcement of the Coral Sea Conservation Zone

The area of the Coral Sea under Australia's jurisdiction, one of the most pristine marine areas in the world, has been declared a conservation zone under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

14 May 2009

Draft Assessment Bilateral Agreement between the Australian Government and Queensland

The current bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and Queensland will expire on 13 August 2009. Comments are invited on the new draft bilateral agreement, based on the current agreement. Comments close 19 June 2009.

12 May 2009

Emergency action in the Goolwa Channel, South Australia, can go ahead

Environment Minister Peter Garrett determined on 12 May 2009 that a proposal by the South Australian Government to take emergency action to manage acid sulphate soils in the Goolwa Channel, Finniss River and Currency Creek, does not need further assessment under national environment law.

1 May 2009

Release of Olympic Dam expansion environmental impact statement

The environmental impact statement for the Olympic Dam mine expansion in South Australia (including export of copper concentrate through the Port of Darwin) was released by BHP Billiton on 1 May 2009 for a 14 week public comment period until 7 August. The EIS has been prepared to meet the requirements of the Australian, South Australian and Northern Territory governments.