The Federal Government has pledged to fix Australia’s “broken” environmental laws, and set up a tough federal EPA.

Professor Graeme Samuel’s 2019 review into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act found that “the EPBC Act is outdated and requires fundamental reform… Australians do not trust that the Act is delivering for the environment, for business or for the community”.

In response, the Albanese government has released its ‘Nature Positive Plan: better for the environment, better for business’.

“We want an economy that is nature positive - to halt decline and repair nature,” environment minister Tanya Plibersek said this week. 

“We will build our legislation on three basic principles: clear national standards of environmental protection, improving and speeding up decisions, and building trust and integrity.”

The new plan makes a number of pledges, including; 

  • Stronger laws designed to repair nature

  • A new Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to make development decisions and properly enforce them

  • More certainty - saving time and money with faster, clearer decisions about developments including housing and energy

  • Regional plans to identify the areas needing protection, areas for fast-tracked development and where development can proceed with caution

  • Less red tape - easier paperwork and less duplication. Streamlining and consolidating the project assessment process

“Our Nature Positive Plan is a win-win: a win for the environment and a win for business,” Ms Plibersek said. 

“I look forward to working with environment, business, community and First Nations groups to deliver it.

“Our reforms are seeking to turn the tide in this country - from nature destruction to nature repair.”