Reform of the EPBC Act
National environment law reform
On 24 August 2011 the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities released the government response to the independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as part of a broad package of reforms for Australia’s national environment law.
Announcing the reform package the Minister said that these reforms would:
- deliver better environmental protection focusing on whole regions and ecosystems and faster environmental assessments
- provide a consistent national approach to environmental impact assessments that removes duplication, cuts red tape, and
- provide better upfront guidance on legislation requirements, with more long-term certainty and transparency.
A draft Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) has been released for public comment:
COAG reforms
As part of its work to implement this reform package, the Australian Government has been leading a national reform process through COAG, aimed at reducing the regulatory burden for industry.
At its 13 April meeting, the Council of Australian Governments accelerated this work significantly, reflecting the ‘one stop shop’ theme developed by Minister Burke last year.
COAG agreed that the Australian, state and territory governments would work to fast-track the development of bilateral arrangements that would allow the Commonwealth to accredit state and territory assessment and approval processes.
COAG expressed its commitment to high environmental standards.
For more information on the COAG outcomes:
- COAG signs up to proposals to cut red tape – Prime Minister's Media Release 13 April 2012
- COAG Communiqué - 13 April 2012
Implementing the reforms
- COAG has set two clear deadlines for these reforms to be implemented.
- By December 2012 we will have developed environmental standards and bilateral arrangements for accreditation of state assessment and approval processes.
- Agreements with states and territories will be finalised by March 2013.
- We are already in discussions with states and territories about implementing this reform agenda within the deadlines set by COAG.
- Discussions at this early stage are about designing the process for meeting the COAG commitments. We expect to begin working through the detail of bilateral assessments with each state and territory government as soon as the process is agreed.
Public comment
The following documents were previously open for public comment:
- Australian Government Biodiversity Policy – Consultation draft – Comment period closed 21 October 2011
- Environmental Offsets Policy – Consultation draft – Comment period closed 21 October 2011
- National Centre for Cooperation on Environment and Development – Call for Expressions of Interest closed 1 November 2011
Independent Review of the EPBC Act
The following documents relate to the statutory 10 year review of the EPBC Act:
- Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
- Reforming national environment law: An overview
- Government response to the independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Media release and transcript
- Reforms better for the environment, better for business – media release 24 August 2011
- Minister’s address to the National Press Club – transcript 24 August 2011
- Reforming national environment law: An overview
- Government response to the independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Australian Government Response to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee Report: Operations of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (First, Second and Final Reports)