Watershed Victoria

Watershed/YWYS with EDO are working on a submission to this 10 year review (refer announcement and links below.

EPBC ACT - Independent Review

On 31 October 2008 the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts commissioned an independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the Australian Government’s central piece of environmental legislation. Section 522A of the EPBC Act requires it to be reviewed every 10 years from its commencement.

This is the first review of the EPBC Act since its commencement on 16 July 2000. The review will assess the operation of the EPBC Act and the extent to which its objects have been achieved.

Community participation in the review is encouraged. There will be opportunities for public input over the course of the review. The first stage of this public input process has commenced and written submissions are now invited. The closing date for submissions is 19 December 2008.

Public consultation sessions will also be held across the course of the review. Details will be made available on this web site closer to the time. Interested parties are also invited to register to receive news and updates of the review at http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/review/index.html

The review is being undertaken by Dr Allan Hawke.

Here is the link to the discussion paper that has already been put out: http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/review/publications/discussion-paper.html