Australia Set to Launch First-Ever National Environment Protection Agency

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A new federal environmental watchdog will be set up by the Labor government as part of its attempt to revamp Australia’s environmental laws.

Environment Minister Murray Watt announced on Sunday that the government would establish the nation’s first-ever National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA), a new independent body to strengthen oversight.

He said the proposed body would act as a “strong, independent regulator” responsible for ensuring compliance with new environmental laws, auditing state and territory processes for project approvals and educating industry and community on the country’s environmental legislation.

In a bold statement, Watt emphasized the importance of a newly independent National Environmental Protection Authority (NEPA), asserting that it would provide robust compliance and enforcement oversight. This move aims to better safeguard our cherished environment and ensure that those who attempt to harm it face severe consequences.

NEPA’s creation is part of a comprehensive suite of proposed reforms to environmental legislation. These reforms include the introduction of new national environmental standards, revisions to environmental offset policies, and significantly increased penalties for businesses that violate environmental laws.

The new agency would exercise a range of powers independently of the environment minister, including compliance and auditing against new environmental laws, while allowing the minister to retain decision-making power for certain matters, including project approvals and accreditation of state and territory processes.

However, not everyone is on board with these changes. Sussan Ley has criticized Labor’s proposed reforms, labeling them an “environmental approvals disaster” due to the additional bureaucracy they would impose.

Sussan Ley wearing a blue coat, standing in a room with other people sitting on green seats.

Over the years, there have been numerous efforts to revamp the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The latest round of reforms is anticipated to be presented to parliament as soon as this week, marking a significant step in Australia’s environmental policy landscape.

These proposed changes are informed by the Samuel Review, which was delivered to the Coalition government in 2020. Led by the former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the review concluded that Australia’s national environmental laws were outdated and insufficiently effective.

On Friday, Samuel told the ABC he was “frustrated” and “frankly, a little angry” about the Greens and Opposition’s position on the proposed changes.

On Friday, Opposition leader Ley called the reforms an “environmental approvals disaster” that would add layers of bureaucracy.

Greens leader Larissa Waters has criticised the proposal for doing “little to protect nature”, and that the change “weakens an already weak piece of legislation”.