{"id":"F2021L00428","name":"Determination that a distinct population of biological entities is a species under section 517 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (225)","slug":"f2021l00428","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":319146,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2021L00428-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Determination that a distinct population of biological entities is a species under section 517 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (225)","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 20.2\ntitle: Attach G - Legislative Instrument_April brief\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n \n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)\n\n \n\nCommonwealth of Australia\n\n \n\nDetermination that a distinct population of biological entities is a species under section 517 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (225)\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nI, SUSSAN LEY, Minister for the Environment, under section 517 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, determine that the following population of biological entities is a species for the purposes of that Act:\n\n \n\n \n\nNannoperca australis Murray-Darling Basin lineage\n\n \n\n \n\nThis instrument commences the day after registration.\n\n \n\n \n\nSussan Ley\n\n \n\nMinister for the Environment\n\n \n\n \n\nDated   22 March 2021\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument changes the legal scope of the EPBC Act by adding the named population to the class of biological entities treated as a \"species\" under the Act. The instrument itself records the Minister's determination under s517 and the commencement timing, but does not set out how the Act's provisions will be applied to that population."},"complexity_factors":["Length: very short, single declaratory provision","Legal mechanism: simple exercise of a single statutory power (s517) to declare species status","No operational detail: instrument does not specify regulatory consequences, conditions, or procedures","Clear commencement rule: takes effect day after registration"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument, made by the Minister under s517 of the EPBC Act, declares the population \"Nannoperca australis Murray‑Darling Basin lineage\" to be treated as a species for the purposes of the Act. It takes effect the day after registration and thus brings that population within the EPBC Act’s legal framework; it does not itself set specific obligations, costs, or operational details."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the function intended by section 517 of the EPBC Act: allowing the Minister to determine that a distinct population of biological entities constitutes a species for the purposes of the Act. The scope remains tightly confined to this specific taxonomic determination for the Murray-Darling Basin lineage of Nannoperca australis. There is no evidence of scope creep or expansion beyond the original legislative purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short instrument: approximately 150 words total","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the single empowering provision (section 517)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or procedural requirements","Single operative clause with straightforward factual determination","No schedules, tables, or technical appendices"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a short legal decision made by the federal Environment Minister in 2021. It officially recognises a specific group of fish—the Murray-Darling Basin lineage of the southern pygmy perch (*Nannoperca australis*)—as a separate **species** under Australia's main environmental law, the *Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999* (EPBC Act).\n\n**Why this matters:**\n- **Legal protection:** Once recognised as a distinct species, this fish population gains stronger legal protections under national environmental law.\n- **Conservation status:** It allows the population to be assessed and potentially listed as threatened (endangered or vulnerable) if it meets the criteria, triggering recovery plans and habitat protection.\n- **Scientific recognition:** The decision reflects scientific evidence that this Murray-Darling population is genetically and biologically distinct from other southern pygmy perch populations (such as those in coastal drainages).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **The fish:** The specific lineage found in the Murray-Darling river system.\n- **Land managers and developers:** Anyone whose activities might impact this fish population now faces potential EPBC Act approval requirements.\n- **Scientists and conservation groups:** They gain clearer legal standing to advocate for protection of this distinct population.\n\nThis is an example of \"taxonomic determination\"—using ministerial power to decide how a group of organisms is classified for legal purposes, which then determines what environmental protections apply."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/f2021l00428","history":"/api/acts/f2021l00428/history","analysis":"/api/acts/f2021l00428/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/f2021l00428/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/f2021l00428/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/f2021l00428/documents"}}