Submission to the 10 year review of the EPBC Act

The National Environmental Law Association (NELA) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the second 10 year statutory review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The EPBC Act is now over 20 years old, and is in need of reform. NELA considers that the EPBC Act should be simplified, strengthened and modernised to better regulate environmental decision making and actions that impact on environmental matters of national and international importance. The primary goal of the Act’s regulatory framework should be to deliver best practice environmental and conservation outcomes and protect biodiversity and heritage.