Environment Minister Murray Watt says the government’s new environment laws are delivering faster, clearer processes to development proponents and to communities. Photo: Supplied.
The next stage of new federal environment laws has kicked in, allowing for faster development approvals in certain regions of the country while also adding a number of safeguards.
The Federal Government’s reforms passed both houses of Parliament at the end of last year, which amended the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Provisions in the second tranche of the new laws came into effect on Friday (20 February) and include changes to strategic assessments that allow development proponents to request variations to an existing assessment, making them more flexible over time.
National interest exemptions have also been introduced, allowing a Federal Environment Minister to override restrictions under certain conditions.
The government says that provision would reduce administrative burden during emergency situations.
New information-sharing arrangements that aim to support faster decision-making under the EPBC Act have also begun.
Other elements of this stage of the laws include:
- Proponents who have received a ‘not controlled action if taken in a particular manner’ decision may now request a reconsideration from the Minister to change the manner in which the action is taken;
- Allowing proponents to surrender unused approvals, reducing the compliance burden for projects that are not progressing and ensuring the community has clarity around projects near them;
- Expanding the role of the Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) to ensure First Nations knowledge is embedded in decision-making, including species listing and Standards; and
- Changes to streamline processes and reduce inefficiencies for wildlife trade permits for example extending the maximum approval timeframes for Wildlife Trade Operations, allowing time for applicants to provide further information and lapsing applications, where requested information is not provided.
Environment Minister Murray Watt said the reforms deliver on the recommendations of Professor Graeme Samuel in his independent review of the Act and aim to achieve balanced changes that protect the environment and deliver for business and the community through faster decision-making.
“Through this next tranche of changes, we are delivering faster, clearer processes to proponents and communities as quickly as possible,” Senator Murray said.
“This tranche of reforms is just the beginning, allowing us to ‘switch on’ elements that are ready while continuing to build the larger reform system.
“It will also pave the way for the establishment of Australia’s first National Environmental Protection Agency and head of Environment Information Australia on 1 July 2026.”
These changes follow provisions that have been in place since the legislation was given Royal Assent.
They include new protections against high-risk tree-clearing, with the Minister given the power to make national environmental standards.
Senator Watt said progress has been made on the national standards, with public consultation around the Matters of National Environmental Significance and Environmental Offsets Standards garnering interest.
“There’s clear interest in this work,” the Minister said.
“My department received approximately 750 submissions from a wide variety of groups and individuals on these two standards alone, which we will take into consideration for the next phase of drafting.
“Work is also progressing on further standards on First Nations engagement, community engagement and data and information.”
Other reforms in the legislation are taking longer to implement.
With the National Environment Protection Agency not starting operations until July, much of the remaining reforms in the new laws won’t kick in until the end of the year.
Consultation with stakeholders on the implementation of the whole package of new laws is continuing.
The Minister said that once fully implemented, the reforms will deliver stronger environmental protection and restoration; more efficient and robust project assessments; and greater accountability and transparency in decision-making.
To secure the bill’s successful passage through the Senate in November last year, however, the Federal Government had to agree to include native forest logging in national environment standards within 18 months; set up a $300 million support fund for the forestry industry; and remove any sunset exemptions from the legislation for high-risk land-clearing and regional forestry agreements.
Labor also conceded to the Greens’ request for the legislation to prevent fast-tracking of coal and gas projects, and to keep such development approval powers with the Commonwealth rather than the states.
The deal between Labor and the Greens cut the Coalition out of negotiations altogether, to give Labor an end-of-year political victory.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
