Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
- Page type:
- Legislation
- Category:
- Environmental impact assessment,
- Habitat and biodiversity
- Year:
- 1999
- Jurisdiction:
- Commonwealth
- Websource:
- http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/epabca1999588/
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is the Australian Government's principal piece of environmental legislation. Commonly known as the “EPBC Act”, it came into force on 16 July 2000.
The “EPBC Act” sets up the framework by which the Commonwealth Government protects Australia's biodiversity. It makes the taking, trading or damaging of listed and protected species and ecological communities an offence. It is also an offence to undertake actions that have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance without approval
It does this through two principal mechanisms:
- The permit system, by which the taking, trading or damaging of listed and protected species and ecological communities can be authorised, and acting without a permit is an offence; and
- The environment impact assessment process for actions that have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance.
The Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage (the Minister) is responsible for making decisions under the EPBC Act. The Minister is assisted by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), which administers the EPBC Act. The DEWHA has previously been known as the DEH, and before that was called Environment Australia or EA.
See Commonwealth threatened species law for a further explanation of Commonwealth biodiversity and threatened species legislation.
See Commonwealth environmental impact assessment for more information on the federal environmental impact assessment process.
Standing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
Section 487 of the Act grants extended standing rights to Australian persons or groups who have been engaged in activities for the protection or conservation, or research into, the environment for a period of two years or more. People or groups meeting this description are entitled to seek review of any reviewable decision made under the Act and do not need to meet common law standing requirements.
External Links
See also
