The Environment Protection Amendment Bill 2018: An overview of key reform highlights

The Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D'Ambrosio, has introduced the long awaited Environment Protection Amendment Bill 2018 (Bill) into State Parliament today. Representing the biggest environmental regulatory shake-up in Victoria in decades, this overview summarises key reforms arising from the Bill.

This Bill will completely replace the Environment Protection Act 1970 (Vic) (EP Act), and is intended to implement key reforms in the Government's response to the 2016 Inquiry into the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The Bill introduces a new scheme for the regulation of the impacts of pollution, waste and contaminated land on human health and the environment focussed on minimising risks. Central to this scheme is a general preventative duty to minimise the risks of harm to human health and the environment arising from pollution and waste.