Recommendation 25

In the second tranche of reform, the EPBC Act should be amended to support more effective planning that accounts for cumulative impacts and past and future key threats and build environmental resilience in a changing climate. Amendments should enable:

1. strategic national plans to be developed, consistent with the National Environmental Standards, to guide a national response and effectively target action and investment to address nationally pervasive issues such as high-level and cross-border threats
2. regional recovery plans to be developed, consistent with the National Environmental Standards, to support coordinated threat management and investment to reduce cumulative impacts on threatened species and ecological communities
3. ecologically sustainable development plans to be developed and accredited, consistent with the National Environmental Standards. These plans should address environmental, economic, cultural and social values and include priority areas for investment in the environment
4. strategic assessments to be approved, consistent with the National Environmental Standards and regional recovery plans and provide for a single approval for a broad range of actions
5. the Commonwealth to accredit plans made by other parties, where these plans are consistent with National Environmental Standards and other relevant plans
6. plans to be made consistent with key principles for quality regional planning.