Stakeholder consultation continues

Magnetic Island

Professor Graeme Samuel AC has continued his initial round of consultation on the future of Australia’s national environmental law. Professor Samuel is meeting with a broad range of groups to better understand their views on the current operation of the EPBC Act and where there may be opportunities for improvement.

This first round of engagement is focused on hearing from state and territory government departments, statutory committees and joint boards of management established under the Act, national science organisations and programs, and national-level environmental, industry, and legal organisations with an interest in the Act.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority hosted Professor Samuel on a two-day field trip to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. This trip explored the challenges associated with managing the Reef, and the role that the EPBC Act plays in helping to protect the Reef for current and future generations.

To date, 46 organisations have been involved in the consultations for the review. Since our last update, Professor Samuel has met with:

  • Bush Heritage Australia
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Environmental Defender’s Network
  • Environmental Justice Australia
  • Australian Panel of Experts in Environmental Law
  • Australian Heritage Council
  • Australian Local Government Association
  • Australian Capital Territory government departments
  • Queensland government departments
  • Australian Marine Conservation Society
  • Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
  • Tropical Water Quality Hub of the National Environmental Science Program
  • Australian Institute of Marine Science
  • Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub of the National Environmental Science Program
  • Tasmanian government departments
  • Marine Biodiversity Hub of the National Environmental Science Program
  • Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  • Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Peak Organisations
  • Business Council of Australia
  • Property Council of Australia
  • The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
  • Minerals Council of Australia
  • Victorian government departments
  • The Academy of Science
  • South Australian government departments

In the new year Professor Samuel will meet with CSIRO and Geoscience Australia and attend the scheduled meetings of the Joint Management Boards of Commonwealth National Parks.

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