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ARTICLE · 30 AUGUST 2018

Tougher new environmental laws for Victoria

Holding Redlich
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The amendments establish a new duty to notify the EPA of pollution incidents and a duty to notify of contaminated land.

AustraliaEnvironment
Joseph Monaghan
Joseph Monaghan
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The Environment Protection Amendment Bill 2018 received royal assent yesterday, 28 August 2018. Section 2 of the Act sets out its commencement and it relevantly provides that 'if a provision of this Act does not come into operation before 1 December 2020, it comes into operation on that day.' The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has said that the Victorian Government intends that the new legislation will take effect from 1 July 2020. The Environment Protection Act 1970 (1970 Act) will be repealed. The Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018 (Amending Act) will substantively amend the Environment Protection Act 2017. The 2017 Act will become the principal environmental legislation in Victoria.

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