About the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government's central piece of environmental legislation. It commenced on 16 July 2000. The Act is administered by the Australian Government Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts.
The EPBC Act aims to:
- provide for the protection of the environment, especially matters of national environmental significance identified in the Act, while promoting ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources
- conserve Australian biodiversity
- provide a streamlined national environmental impact assessment and approvals process
- enhance the protection and management of important natural and cultural places
- control the international movement of plants and animals (wildlife), wildlife specimens and products made or derived from wildlife
- promote the use of Indigenous peoples' knowledge and recognise the role of Indigenous people in the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity
- allow the Australian Government to work with the states and territories in delivering a national scheme for environment and heritage protection and biodiversity conservation
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