3rd Jul 2024, 1:18 PM – Representatives Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill 2024 and two others - Second Reading - Agree with bill's main idea

The majority voted in favour of a motion to agree with the main idea of the bills, which means our MPs can now discuss them in more detail. In parliamentary jargon, they voted in favour of reading the bills for a second time.

What are the bills' main idea?

According to the bills digest:

• The Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill 2024 establishes a statutory agency to be known as Environment Protection Australia (EPA), which is to be led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Bill contains provisions relating to the governance and operation of the CEO and EPA. The CEO is given, directly and indirectly, functions and powers under 9 environmental laws, as provided for by amendments made by the Nature Positive (Environmental Law Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024.

• The Nature Positive (Environment Information Australia) Bill 2024 establishes the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Head of Environment Information Australia within the department. The Bill sets out the functions of the Head of the EIA (HEIA), including defining a baseline for nature positive and reporting towards a nature positive Australia.

• The Nature Positive (Environmental Law Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024 amends 9 environmental laws to provide the CEO with a range of powers and functions under those laws. It also amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) to increase criminal and civil penalties, add new compliance and enforcement powers, and amend ‘stop clock’ provisions.

• The Bills form part of the Albanese Government’s response to the second independent review of the EPBC Act (the Samuel Review), as outlined in its Nature Positive Plan: Better for the environment, better for business.

• Stakeholders have been uniformly critical of the government’s failure to progress the full reform agenda as set out in the Nature Positive Plan. Academic experts and environment and climate action advocacy groups are concerned that the full reform agenda will not be delivered in this term of Parliament, while industry and business groups have expressed concern that the reforms add ‘green tape’ and will reduce investor confidence.

• The Bills are expected to be referred to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report.