Submission to the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Please find following a submission to the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. This submission focuses on reviewing the level of compliance with Section 516A (Annual reports to deal with environmental matters) of the EPBC Act 1999 by addressing the following questions raised in the Independent Review of the EPBC Act’s Discussion Paper: Question 37 – Does the Act contain sufficient comprehensive and appropriate range of enforcement mechanisms? Are those mechanisms capable of deterring and responding to contraventions of the Act? Question 40 – Does the Act provide sufficient guidance for decision makers in their consideration of uncertainty when making decisions under the Act? If not, how should the Act deal with uncertainty? Question 41 – Does the Act provide the appropriate opportunity for external input and scrutiny of decisions made under the Act? Is there sufficient transparency? Are the periods for public consultation adequate? This submission includes a number of recommendations which we believe will improve the level of reporting transparency as per section 516A of the EPBC Act 1999.