The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) was established in 1971, following a year-long campaign by Conservation Council of WA.
The EPA plays a vital role in safeguarding WA's unique environment.
The objective of the EPA is to “protect the environment and to prevent, control and abate pollution and environmental harm".
The primary responsibility of the EPA is to assess the environmental impact of proposed developments and provide independent advice to the government. This process ensures that environmental considerations are integrated into decision-making.
However, changes introduced by the Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2024have far-reaching implications for WA’s environment and democratic processes.
Key concerns include:
- Erosion of EPA independence
- Reduced transparency and public involvement
- Legal uncertainty from parallel decision-making processes
- Industry-aligned governance structures that risk regulatory capture.
The Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2024 represents a backward step in WA’s environmental governance.
Rather than strengthening WA’s environmental framework, these changes weaken environmental assessment processes, narrows public participation, and risks enabling further ecological harm.