Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 26 NOVEMBER 2025

Market Intelligence Thought Leadership Award Winner

The Latest On EPBC Clean Energy Project Approvals

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Contributor
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

We have one of the largest Southeast Asia international law practices, working across the region...

View firm profile
Explore more from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Our analysis of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) Public Portal has shown improvements in the timeframes for controlled action decisions...

AustraliaEnergy and Natural Resources
Peter Briggs
Peter Briggs
Kathryn Pacey
Kathryn Pacey
Riley Quinn
Riley Quinn
Author LinkedIn connections

Our analysis of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) Public Portal has shown improvements in the timeframes for controlled action decisions, for renewable energy projects located in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland (136 days in 2023, compared to 65 days in 2025).

Despite faster referral processing times, assessment and approvals timeframes under the EPBC remain lengthy. For renewable energy projects in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria referred since 2023, which require assessment and approval under the EPBC Act, only 1 has received a final decision.

The overview

  • 1 for 89. For the 89 renewable energy projects in NSW, Victoria or Queensland referred since 2023, which require assessment and approval under the EPBC Act, only 1 has received a final decision from the Federal Minister.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

NSW Raises The Bar For IPC Referral Of Major Energy Projects, And Effectively Removes It For BESS

The NSW Government has doubled the objection threshold for electricity generating works to be referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) and removed objection-based IPC referral for battery energy storage systems altogether. These changes seek to materially reduce approval risk for proponents across the energy sector.
AustraliaEnergy and Natural Resources
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Article

When Mining Or Exploration Comes To Your Station

Pastoralists should identify the water and operational assets that matter to the station before activity begins, then ensure any access or commercial agreement clearly deals with monitoring, disruption, rehabilitation, liability and review. The legal position will depend on the mining or exploration licence (as the case may be), the pastoral lease, government policy, approvals and proposed activity, but early preparation gives a family stronger footing in discussions.
AustraliaEnergy and Natural Resources
HHG Legal Group
HHG Legal Group
Article

Rethinking Utility Hardship: From Reactive Support To System-wide Change

Utility organizations face mounting pressure to address customer hardship through comprehensive ecosystem changes. This analysis explores how utilities can implement interventions across individual, organizational, and systemic levels to create meaningful impact. The framework presented offers a multi-layered approach to transforming reactive support into proactive, system-wide solutions.
AustraliaEnergy and Natural Resources
KordaMentha
KordaMentha
Article

Review Of Financial Provisioning For Resources Industry: Consultation Now Underway

The Queensland Government has launched a comprehensive review of its Financial Provisioning Scheme for the resources industry, examining whether the current framework adequately balances environmental rehabilitation risks with industry growth and investment opportunities. Stakeholders from across the mining sector, investment community, and landholders are invited to provide feedback on the scheme's effectiveness and potential improvements.
AustraliaEnergy and Natural Resources
Holding Redlich
Holding Redlich