Environment assessments
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, environment assessments are undertaken to enable environment and heritage protection and biodiversity conservation.
Referring a proposed action
Before taking an action that could have a significant impact on a matter protected by the EPBC Act, you must refer your proposed action to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Energy (the Minister).
Exemptions
The Minister may exempt a person proposing to take action under certain circumstances.
Strategic approaches to assessment
Strategic approaches are detailed in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 as important tools for high level environmental management and assessment. They allow the Australian Government to work closely with state and territory governments in the planning and assessment process, and allow for the alignment of state/territory and federal policies and frameworks.
Strategic approaches provide a sensible, streamlined and consistent approach to achieving good environmental outcomes, and include strategic assessments, conservation agreements, bilateral agreements and bioregional planning.
Strategic assessments
Strategic assessments allow for a 'whole of government' approach to assessing environmental impacts under a policy, plan or program. They allow the Australian Government to work closely with state and territory governments, or other willing partners (such as industry), in the early stages of planning to ensure environmental issues, including matters of national environmental significance, are considered from the start. Approved classes of actions taken in accordance with an endorsed policy, plan or program will not require a separate referral and/or approval.
Fisheries assessments
An independent assessment of all export and all Australian Government managed fisheries is required. These assessments ensure that, over time, fisheries are managed in an ecologically sustainable way. The assessment process is designed to incorporate a flow of communication between fishery managers and the Australian Government, in order to facilitate the best outcome for the fishery. Each fishery is unique, and assessment is based on the merits of the combination of management measures in place and fishery specific issues.
Conservation agreements
Conservation agreements allow individuals to protect and conserve biodiversity and the character of certain matters of national environmental significance. This can occur on land or in the sea.
Bilateral agreements
Bilateral agreements give state and territory governments the responsibility for undertaking environmental assessments and/or approvals for certain issues. Bilateral agreements exist between the Commonwealth and all other Australian jurisdictions.
Bioregional planning
Bioregional planning is done in partnership with state and territory governments and involves developing a plan for a bioregion that is not wholly within a Commonwealth area. Such planning provides for a landscape based approach to biodiversity conservation, including matters of national environmental significance. The Australian Government may provide financial assistance for its implementation. At present, bioregional plans exist for the Commonwealth marine environment.