Biodiversity Summit

Biodiversity is the living fabric of the planet – the diversity of ecosystems, species and genes which make up life on earth. Australia has a special responsibility as one of 17 mega-diverse countries that collectively hold about 70% of the world’s plants and animals. We have more endemic animal species than any other country. We are also unique in spanning an entire continent and its surrounding seas within one political jurisdiction.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act  1999 (Cth) ( EPBC Act ), which commenced in July 2000, is Australia’s national legislation to protect biodiversity. It gives effect to several international conventions, including particularly the Convention on Biological Diversity. Among its objectives are: to provide for the protection of the environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, and to promote the conservation of biodiversity.

The EPBC Act replaced a series of Commonwealth Acts including the Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act  1974 (Cth) ( EPIP Act ), the Australian Heritage Commission Act  1975 (Cth), the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act  1983 (Cth) and the Endangered Species Protection Act  (1992) (Cth). In drawing all these responsibilities under one Act, it aims to establish an ‘integrated regime’ for biodiversity conservation, recognising World Heritage areas, Ramsar wetlands, Commonwealth marine areas, migratory species, and threatened species and communities as matters of national environmental significance.

Until now, the federal Minister for the Environment has been responsible for making decisions under the EPBC Act, but COAG (Council of Australian Governments), at its most recent meeting, agreed to work on delegating decision-making power to the states and territories. Read more