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ARTICLE · 01 DECEMBER 2024

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New Biodiversity Reforms in NSW - a step toward net positive outcomes

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A key finding in both reports was the effectiveness of the operation of the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.

AustraliaEnvironment
Laura Raffaele
Laura Raffaele
Maja Podinic
Maja Podinic
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On 22 November 2024, the NSW Parliament passed an amendment to the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) (the Act).

This reform is in line with the Government's NSW Plan for Nature, which was a response to an independent statutory review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (led by Dr Ken Henry and published in August 2023).

A key finding of the 2023 statutory review was that the operative provisions of the Act were "incapable" of supporting the legislation's objectives which has resulted in the declining state of nature in NSW.

This is not the first time issues with the operation of the Act have been raised. The independent statutory review followed a parliamentary inquiry into the Act in 2022. A key finding in both reports was the effectiveness of the operation of the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.

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