The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) is Australia’s national environment law.

It is supposed to provide a framework for the protection of Australia’s environment, including

• world and national heritage
• wetlands
• threatened flora and fauna
• migratory species
• protection from nuclear actions
• water resources, and
• the marine environment.

These laws are also meant to recognise and promote the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and knowledge in protecting Country. 

Right now, these national nature laws fail to protect the environment. The latest review  (The Samuel Review) found that our natural environment is in an overall state of decline and confirmed that our laws are not fit for purpose. 

The failure of these laws sits at the heart of almost every environmental challenge across the country. You only have to look at Australia’s record as a global leader in extinctions and deforestation and rising emissions to see that the laws aren’t working.

They’re supposed to be key to protecting everything from black cockatoos, to precious places like Scott Reef, our jarrah forests and a safe climate future.

Australia’s environmental laws are legally required/mandated to be independently reviewed every ten years. 

Based on the recommendations from the review, the Albanese Government promised to fix and update Australia’s nature laws.