{"id":"F2025L01268","name":"Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (2026 Conservation Theme for Prioritising Nominations of Threatened Species, Threatened Ecological Communities and Key Threatening Processes) Determination 2025","slug":"environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-2026-conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nomina","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":107312,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2025L01268-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (2026 Conservation Theme for Prioritising Nominations of Threatened Species, Threatened Ecological Communities and Key Threatening Processes) Determination 2025","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\ntitle: Attach D - Legislative Instrument - 517 determination - template\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (2026 Conservation Theme for Prioritising Nominations of Threatened Species, Threatened Ecological Communities and Key Threatening Processes) Determination 2025\n\nI, Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water, make the following instrument.\n\nDated  20 / 10 / 25  \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nMurray Watt\n\nMinister for the Environment and Water\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (2026 Conservation Theme for Prioritising Nominations of Threatened Species, Threatened Ecological Communities and Key Threatening Processes) Determination 2025.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 194D of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.\n\n4  Determination\n\n  ‘Nominations that support the protection and recovery of species and ecological communities at risk from the impacts of the harmful algal bloom off the coast of South Australia.’ is a conservation theme that should be given priority in relation to the assessment period commencing 1 October 2026.\n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument operates exactly as intended by section 194D of the EPBC Act, which specifically authorises the Minister to determine annual conservation themes for prioritising nominations. The scope is narrow and precisely matches the statutory purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short: only 4 operative sections spanning less than one page","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling provision (section 194D)","Single, straightforward operative provision with no conditional logic or exceptions","No procedural requirements or compliance obligations imposed on third parties","Essentially a one-sentence policy declaration wrapped in legislative form"],"plain_english_summary":"The Environment Minister, Murray Watt, has declared the 2026 EPBC Act conservation theme to prioritise assessment of species and ecological communities harmed by the harmful algal bloom off South Australia.  \n\nIt directs the Threatened Species Scientific Committee to fast-track nominations from the backlog so those marine species and ecosystems most affected by this event get rapid consideration and potential protection."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Section 4 designates a specific 2026 conservation theme (harmful algal bloom impacts off South Australia) to be given priority in the assessment period commencing 1 October 2026. That designation changes the scope of prioritisation used in nominations processing for that assessment period by focusing attention and administrative resources on nominations tied to that theme."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument with four clauses (name, commencement, authority, determination) — low textual complexity (ss 1–4).","Legal basis relies on a specific statute provision (s194D of the EPBC Act) which concentrates decision-making power in the Minister (s3).","Immediate commencement on registration creates tight administrative timing for affected agencies (s2).","Substantive content is narrow but substantive effect is procedural: it alters prioritisation criteria used in later assessments (s4).","Operational complexity arises outside the instrument — reallocating assessment effort and resources among nominators and agencies — not set out here (s4)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument designates the 2026 conservation theme to be prioritised in EPBC Act nomination assessments: protection and recovery of species and ecological communities at risk from the harmful algal bloom off the coast of South Australia (s4). It takes effect the day after registration (s2) and is made under s194D (s3). The Minister (Murray Watt) set the theme; the change shifts assessment priority, so nominators and the agencies that assess nominations must reallocate attention and resources for the 1 October 2026 assessment period."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-2026-conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nomina","history":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-2026-conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nomina/history","analysis":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-2026-conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nomina/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-2026-conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nomina/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-2026-conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nomina/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-2026-conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nomina/documents"}}