Submission to the Senate Environment and Communication Committee inquiry into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2021

The Minerals Council of Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Senate Environment and Communication Committee inquiry into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021 (the bill).

The bill and other legislative reforms currently before the Parliament will deliver the immediate priority legislative recommended by the independent review led by Professor Graeme Samuel AC into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These priority legislative reforms include:

• The introduction of National Environmental Standards
• Improved processes to accredit State and Territory approval process to deliver single-touch environmental approvals
• Establish by statutory appointment an Environment Assurance Commissioner.

The introduction of National Environmental Standards will provide clarity and certainty for the accreditation of state and territory approval process under EPBC Act bilateral agreements.

Importantly, performance of the National Environmental Standards will be overseen by an independent Environment Assurance Commissioner.

Read the full submission here: