Amendment timeline
EPBC Act 1999
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
About this Act
Australia's principal federal environmental Act. Triggered by Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) including World Heritage properties, Ramsar wetlands, listed threatened species, listed migratory species, nuclear actions, Commonwealth marine areas, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and water resources for coal seam gas / large coal mining. Requires referral of proposed actions likely to have a significant impact, and an environmental approvals process administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
- Original Royal Assent
- 16 July 1999
- Original commencement
- 16 July 2000
- Administered by
- CER
Amendment timeline
Chronological list, oldest to newest. Each entry cites the legislation.gov.au compilation or as-made source and, where available, regulator guidance.
Nature Repair Act 2023
Nature Repair Act 2023 + Nature Repair (Consequential Amendments) Act 2023
Royal Assent
14 December 2023
Commencement
15 December 2023
What changed
Established Australia's first national, voluntary biodiversity market — separate from but linked to the EPBC framework. Landholders can register biodiversity projects, generate biodiversity certificates representing measurable improvements in biodiversity, and sell them. The Clean Energy Regulator administers the market. Designed to complement the EPBC offsets regime by directing market-based investment into biodiversity restoration.
Who's affected
Landholders, biodiversity project proponents, corporate buyers seeking voluntary biodiversity credits, the Clean Energy Regulator, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
What's coming next
Nature Positive Plan reforms are the major pending change to Australia's environment law. The Government released the *Nature Positive Plan: Better for the Environment, Better for Business* (December 2022) in response to the Samuel Review of the EPBC Act. Implementation has been staged. The first tranche of legislation introduced in 2024 establishing Environment Protection Australia (EPA) and Environment Information Australia (EIA) lapsed before passage. Tranche 2 (national environmental standards, regional plans, faster decisions) and Tranche 3 (full EPBC Act rewrite) are still in development through 2026. Climate-and-environment 'water trigger' expansion discussed but not yet legislated.
Why this matters now
Project proponents face a regulatory environment in active flux — the EPBC Act framework continues to operate but is widely expected to be substantially rewritten by 2027. The Nature Repair market opened up the buyer side of biodiversity (corporate ESG buyers seeking offsets) — relevant to project proponents needing biodiversity offsets and to landholders considering project participation. Greenwashing exposure on Nature Repair credit claims is being actively policed by ACCC.
Frequently asked
What's a Matter of National Environmental Significance?
Nine listed matters in Part 3 of the EPBC Act: World Heritage properties; National Heritage places; Ramsar wetlands; listed threatened species and ecological communities; listed migratory species; Commonwealth marine areas; the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; nuclear actions; water resources affected by coal seam gas / large coal mining. Action likely to have a 'significant impact' on a MNES requires EPBC referral.
What is the Nature Repair Market?
A national voluntary biodiversity market established under the Nature Repair Act 2023 (commenced 15 Dec 2023). Landholders can register projects (e.g. native vegetation restoration, threatened species habitat improvement), have biodiversity uplift measured to standard methodologies, generate certificates, and sell them. The Clean Energy Regulator administers the registry and methodologies.
Are Nature Repair certificates the same as carbon credits?
No — Nature Repair biodiversity certificates measure biodiversity outcomes (species, habitats), not carbon abatement. They are separate from Australian Carbon Credit Units under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011. A project could potentially generate both, but they are different instruments under different regimes.
What was the Samuel Review?
The 2020 statutory review of the EPBC Act led by Professor Graeme Samuel AC. It recommended fundamental EPBC Act reform including legally binding national environmental standards, an independent compliance regulator, devolution of decisions to accredited state processes, regional planning, and stronger Indigenous engagement. The Government's Nature Positive Plan (Dec 2022) accepted the substance of these recommendations.
When will the EPBC Act be replaced?
Unclear. The first tranche of Nature Positive reforms (the EPA and EIA Bills) lapsed before passage in 2024. Government has signalled further tranches. Full EPBC Act replacement is unlikely before 2027. Project proponents should continue to use the current EPBC framework but monitor regulatory and standard-setting consultations.
Other amendment timelines
Rules Mate summarises and links to legislation.gov.au and regulator guidance. We do not republish statutory text. Every date in this timeline has been verified against the Federal Register of Legislation as at 6 June 2026. Always verify against the live source before acting. Compliance tools, not legal advice. Consult a qualified professional.