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Appendix 1: Prototype National Environmental Standard for matters of national environmental significance (MNES). This section provides a prototype standard for the Protection of the Environment from Nuclear Actions. This should be read in conjunction with the overarching standards for MNES and the existing requirements of the EPBC Act.

A short summary of the preliminary views and proposed key reform directions set out in the Interim Report.

The Minister for the Environment appointed Professor Graeme Samuel AC to conduct the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in October 2019. This Interim Report sets out Professor Samuel’s preliminary views on the fundamental inadequacies of the EPBC Act and proposes key reform directions to address them. Interested parties can provide feedback on the Interim Report via a survey.

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The Reviewer and Expert Panel

Get involved with the Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

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Listing of all resources associated with the Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Terms of reference for the Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Environmental Impact Assessment is a regulatory mechanism provided in the EPBC Act that aims to ensure that significant impacts to matters of national environmental significance are either avoided, mitigated or offset. This mechanism generally applies at a local scale and includes the regulation of Commonwealth land and actions by Commonwealth agencies.

This discussion paper is the first step in consultation for the EPBC Act review.

The EPBC Act has mechanisms that require the Australian Government to report on the effectiveness of the Act. These include Annual Reports and State of the Environment Reports.

The EPBC Act enables the Australian Government to list migratory species, threatened species and ecological communities to identify biodiversity specifically protected. The Act includes mechanisms to mitigate impacts on, protect and recover biodiversity, including recovery plans, conservation agreements and threat abatement plans.

The EPBC Act is the Australian Government’s central piece of environmental legislation. The Act reflects the role of the Commonwealth to address environmental matters of national significance, provide a nationally coordinated approach to managing our environment and meet our international commitments. It establishes a national approach to a wide range of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation matters, with responsibility for decision-making bestowed primarily on the Minister for the Environment.

Areas of ecological, cultural and/or heritage significance are identified, protected and managed under the EPBC Act. These include world and national heritage properties, Ramsar wetlands of international importance, biosphere reserves and Commonwealth land and marine reserves (National Parks).

The EPBC Act enables cooperative partnerships to be established with states and territories, Indigenous Australians and private landowners. Advisory committees are established under the Act. They provide advice to the Minister on specific issues.

The EPBC Act regulates the export of Australian native species and the import of live plants and animals.

Places with Indigenous heritage can be protected and managed under the EPBC Act. Traditional Owners can be involved in the management of Commonwealth reserves. There are other mechanisms in the Act to support the contribution of Indigenous Australians.