Australia’s environment minister has submitted the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act reform bills to the Parliament, marking the government’s latest attempt to overhaul environmental legislation.
The reform package contains three key elements: stronger environmental protection and restoration measures, more efficient and robust project approvals and greater accountability and transparency in environmental decision making.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, said: “Today we’ve introduced a package of reforms that delivers stronger environmental protections, faster project approvals and more transparency.”
“This is not a zero-sum game – we can and are delivering legislation that is better for the environment, and better for business. Every day we delay the passing of these laws we see the environment suffer and we see business and the community suffer.”
Under the proposed measures for strong environmental measures, the reforms propose a new Ministerial power to make National Environmental Standards. There is also a proposal for a new robust offsets regime and higher penalties for severe breaches of environmental law.
To facilitate more efficient and robust project proposals, the government proposes a new Streamlined Assessment Pathway, regional planning to streamline development in areas with lower environmental impacts and removing duplication in the approvals and assessment systems. The reform bills also call for establishing Australia’s first national, independent environment protection agency.
The National EPA will be an independent watchdog with stronger new powers. The Minister for the Environment will retain decision making on environmental assessments and approvals. Public consultation is now open on the reform package until December 5, with the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee to report by March 24, 2026.