Australia Passes EPBC Act Overhaul Bill

The Australian Parliament passed landmark legislation on Thursday to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, known as the EPBC Act, after the government reached a deal with the Greens party on the final sitting day of the year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the agreement in Canberra, describing it as a significant step forward. The reforms amend the 1999 law, which has not been substantially updated in over two decades and has been criticized for inefficiencies in environmental protection and project approvals. The bill establishes a national Environmental Protection Authority as an independent regulator to enforce compliance and oversee assessments. It also introduces the country's first set of national environmental standards, higher penalties for serious breaches, and environment protection orders for urgent interventions.

Under the new measures, large projects must disclose greenhouse gas emissions and develop reduction plans, linking climate impacts to biodiversity considerations. The legislation provides federal oversight for high-risk land clearing and native forestry activities, while prohibiting the fast-tracking of coal and...