Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025

Near Cox's River (A. Crooks)

The federal Government is reforming the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. The EPBC Act is the framework of Australia’s environmental protection laws and its purpose is to protect biodiversity, endangered species, World Heritage Sites, critical habitats and other important natural and cultural places. It is critically important that the Federal Government gets it right and it looks like there is some work to do to ensure our natural environment and climate will be adequately protected.

There is a matter of urgency, the Federal Government wants to move fast so if we can put our submissions in quickly, we have more chances to get our voices heard.

In October the Federal Government introduced draft legislation across 7 bills known as the Environmental Protection Reform Package. It passed the House of Representatives, however it still needs to pass through the Senate.

A Senate Inquiry has been announced with Submissions due by the 5th of December.

The Public is invited to comment on the draft legislation. To help with identifying issues Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) and Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) have looked into the reforms, worked through all the jargon, issues and loopholes and came up with guidelines for submissions.

We strongly encourage everyone to have a look at the submission guide and make a submission. This is a one in a generation opportunity to get it right and we can’t let the Government get away with weak and inefficient new reforms.

Submissions don’t have to be long and complicated, pick a few issues that are important to you from the submission guide and write a heartfelt message. Tell your story, why it is important to you that the Government makes up strong and effective new laws to protect our environment with nature and climate at its center.

For more information, please refer to one or more of the following websites:

Biodiversity Council: https://biodiversitycouncil.org.au/resources/getting-the-epbc-act-right - if you click on the yellow DOWNLOAD button it will take you to a Factsheet

Climate Council: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/actions/epbc-submission/

Environmental Defenders Office: - https://www.edo.org.au/2025/11/14/epbc-act-reforms-get-your-submission-in/

Environmental Justice Australia: – https://envirojustice.org.au/have-your-say-epbc-reform-package/

Environmental Justice Australia also have a YouTube video: https://youtu.be/5jdAU3Jn8DM . . .

. . . and have produced a scorecard – how do the reforms stack up? https://envirojustice.org.au/environment-law-reform-scorecard/

How to send your submission

Submissions are due by the 5th of December, however the sooner the better. More information is available on the official enquiry page: Senate Environment & Communications Legislation Committee.

1. Upload on the Parliament website. Use the ‘Upload Submission’ option on the right side of the page and follow the steps to share your submission. You will need to create a free Parliament of Australia account to submit via this portal.

2. Email your submission to: ec.sen@aph.gov.au

3. By post to:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications
Parliament House, PO Box 6100, Canberra ACT 2600

Once you have sent the submission, you can also email your local MP & the Federal Environmental Minister:
Ms Susan Templeman - Email: susan.templeman.mp@aph.gov.au
Federal Minister for the Environmental and Water – Senator the Hon Murray Watt – Email: minister.watt@dcceew.gov.au

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land
the Darug and Gundungurra people
and pay respect to their Elders past and present.

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