EPBC Act Reforms: Senate Committee Recommendations

The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (Senate Committee) has released its report on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) reforms. 

Although the suite of Bills was passed in November 2025, the Senate Committee continued its inquiry on the draft legislative instruments and on the first two draft National Environmental Standards (NES) – the NES for Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and the NES for Environmental Offsets. Several of the Senate Committee’s 14 recommendations relate to these draft NES. 

Continuing an inquiry after the passage of legislation is unusual, albeit not unprecedented, and was considered warranted due to the size, significance, and complexity of the reforms. If the government accepts these recommendations, this will help refine how the reforms are applied when they come into effect.