Guarantee the independence of the EPA by:
- amending the Environmental Protection Act 1986 to clarify that any Statement of Expectations is subject to Section 8 of the EP Act, ensuring the EPA remains independent from political interference;
- limiting the scope of the Statement of Expectations to procedural matters only (e.g., queue order), not outcomes, timeframes, environmental factors, nor to influence recommendations on specific projects;
- requiring that any Statement of Expectation is consistent with the EP Act’s objectives and purposes (Section 4A);
- removing the “industry and commerce” provision for appointments to the EPA board, or require candidates meet additional existing criteria;
- amending the requirement for EPA members to have an “interest and experience in environmental matters” to instead require experience in the “protection of the environment”, aligning with Section 4A and 15 of the EP Act;
- maintaining a five-member Board to preserve efficiency and cohesion in decision making;
- increasing transparency through the publication of deliberations; and
- improving EPA resourcing for its broader functions in s16 (including scientific review and advice).