Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2025

Part 1—Preliminary

1.01 Name

1.02 Commencement

1.02A Authority

1.03 Definitions—the dictionary

1.04 Schedule 13

Part 2—Matters of national environmental significance

Division 2.1—Nuclear action

2.01 Nuclear action (Act s 22(1))

2.02 Nuclear activity level (Act s 22(1))

2.03 Large‑scale disposal facility (Act s 22(2))

Division 2.2—Additional matters of national environmental significance

Division 2.3—Actions taken to be covered by Division 1 of Part 3 of the Act

2.10 Grazing domestic stock

Part 2A—Actions covered by Ministerial declarations

2A.01 Criteria for accreditation of management arrangements for Commonwealth managed fisheries

2A.02 Publication of determination about minor amendments to an accredited management arrangement or authorisation process

2A.03 Requirements for a declaration

2A.04 Publication of a declaration or instrument

Part 2B—Bilaterally accredited management plans

2B.01 Criteria for accreditation of management plans for World Heritage properties and National Heritage places

Part 3—Bilateral agreements to which s 47(1) of the Act apply

Division 3.1—Preliminary

3.01 Application of Part 3

Division 3.2—General requirements

3.02 Classification of assessment approaches

3.03 Public access to assessment documentation

3.04 Public comment—particular needs groups

Division 3.3—Classes of actions not needing assessment

3.05 Application of Division 3.3

3.06 Manner of assessment

Part 4—Referral of proposals to take action

4.01 Purpose of Part 4

4.02 The way referrals must be made

4.03 Information that must be included in referrals

4.04 Notice of proposal to take action to comply with requirement or request

Part 4A—Reconsideration of a decision under section 75 of the Act

4AA.01 Requirements for requests

4A.01 Notice of the outcome of reconsideration

Part 5—Assessing impact of controlled actions

Division 5.1A—Assessment on referral information

5.03A Minister’s decision on an assessment on referral information

Division 5.2—Matters to be addressed by draft public environment report and environmental impact statement

5.04 Matters that must be addressed in draft public environment report and environmental impact statement

Division 5.3—Extension of the period of effect of approval

5.05 Information for application to Minister to extend the period of effect of approval

5.06 Publication of notice of decision to extend the period of effect of approval

Division 5.4—Variations of proposals to take actions

5.07 Manner of request to vary a proposal to take an action

5.08 Information for a request to vary a proposal to take an action

5.09 Publication of the notice of decision

Division 5.5—Change of person proposing to take an action

5.10 Information for notice of change of person proposing to take an action

5.11 Publication of notice of change of person proposing to take an action

Division 5.6—Fees

Subdivision A—Definitions and key concepts

5.12A Definitions

5.12B Components of a complexity fee

5.12C Determination for each application component

5.12D Determination for each controlling provision component

5.12E Determination for an exceptional case component

5.12F Determination for the legislative impact component

5.12G Determination for the project composition component

5.12H Making determinations

Subdivision B—Fees

5.12J Schedule of fees

5.12K Amount of fees

Subdivision C—Bilateral agreement or accredited assessment process

5.13 Application

5.13A Definitions

5.13B Base fee payable in stages

5.13C Complexity fee payable in stages

5.13D Amount of project composition component

5.13E Method for working out complexity fee

Subdivision D—Assessment on referral information

5.14 Application

5.14A Definitions

5.14B Base fee payable in stages

5.14C Complexity fee payable in stages

5.14D Amount of project composition component

5.14E Method for working out complexity fee

Subdivision E—Assessment on preliminary documentation

5.15 Application

5.15A Definitions

5.15B Base fee payable in stages

5.15C Complexity fee payable in stages

5.15D Amount of project composition component

5.15E Method for working out complexity fee

Subdivision F—Public environment reports

5.16 Application

5.16A Definitions

5.16B Base fee payable in stages

5.16C Complexity fee payable in stages

5.16D Amount of project composition component

5.16E Method for working out complexity fee

Subdivision G—Environmental impact statements

5.17 Application

5.17A Definitions

5.17B Base fee payable in stages

5.17C Complexity fee payable in stages

5.17D Amount of project composition component

5.17E Method for working out complexity fee

Subdivision H—Action management plans

5.18 Fee for the approval of an action management plan

5.18A Inviting public comment before approving action management plan

5.18B Variation of action management plan

Subdivision I—Other fees

5.19 Request to provide specified information

5.19A Request for reconsideration of a decision under subsection 75(1) of the Act

5.19B Request to vary a condition attached to an approval

5.19C Request for Minister’s consent to transfer of approval

5.19D Application to extend period of effect of approval

5.19E Request to vary proposal to take an action

Subdivision J—Reconsideration of fees

5.20 Application for reconsideration of fee

5.20A Reconsideration results in higher fee

Subdivision K—Waiver of fees

5.21 Waiver of all or part of a fee

5.21A Application for waiver of fee

Subdivision L—Refunds of fees

5.22 Refunds of a fee

5.22A Refunds of a referral fee

5.22B Working out the amount of a partial refund

Subdivision M—Exemptions from fees

5.23 Qualification for an exemption

5.23A Secretary may request evidence

5.23B Person exempt from paying fee to notify Secretary if circumstances change

5.23C Effect of ceasing to qualify for an exemption

Subdivision N—Miscellaneous rules relating to fees

5.24 Fees and transfer of approvals

5.24A Fees and lapsed proposals

5.24B Fees and a change of person proposing to take action

5.24C Fees and government agencies

Part 6—Minister’s advice on authorising actions

6.01 Actions for which Minister’s advice must be obtained

6.02 Content of referral of proposal to the Minister

6.03 Notice of decision that the Minister’s advice is not required

Part 6A—Publication of information relating to assessments

6A.01 Request for commercial‑in‑confidence information not to be disclosed

Part 6B—Withdrawal of referrals

6B.01 Publication of a notice withdrawing a referral

Part 7—Species and communities

Division 7.1—Listing

7.01 Criteria for listing threatened species

7.02 Criteria for listing threatened ecological communities

Division 7.2—Nominations for listing

7.03 Notices inviting nominations for an assessment period

7.04 Nominations of native species

7.05 Nominations of ecological communities

7.06 Nominations of threatening processes

7.07 Notice inviting comments on items in finalised priority assessment list

Division 7.3—Notification of action

7.08 Particulars to be notified

Division 7.4—Register of critical habitat

7.09 Identification of critical habitat

7.10 Requirements for register of critical habitat

Division 7.5—Recovery plans and threat abatement plans

7.10A Publication of notice

7.10B Publication of recovery plan decision

7.11 Content of recovery plans

7.12 Content of threat abatement plans

Division 7.6—Conservation agreements

7.13 Variation and termination of conservation agreements

Part 8—Interacting with cetaceans and whale watching

Division 8.1—Interacting with cetaceans

8.01 Purpose of Division 8.1

8.01A Interpretation

8.02 Application of Division 8.1

8.03 Offences in this Division

8.04 Prohibited vessel

8.05 Other craft—adult cetaceans

8.06 Other craft—calves

8.07 Aircraft

8.08 Feeding

8.09 Touching and sudden movements

8.09A Swimming with cetaceans

Division 8.2—Whale watching

8.10 Purpose of Division 8.2

8.11 Application of Division 8.2

8.12 How whale watching is to be carried out

Part 8A—Access to biological resources in Commonwealth areas

Division 8A.1—Preliminary

8A.01 Purpose of Part 8A

8A.02 Application of Part 8A to Commonwealth areas

8A.03 Meaning of access to biological resources

8A.04 Meaning of access provider

8A.05 Exemption for specified biological resources or collections

8A.06 Access to biological resources requires permit

Division 8A.2—Access to biological resources for commercial purposes or potential commercial purposes

8A.07 Benefit‑sharing agreement required

8A.08 Benefit‑sharing agreements

8A.09 Consultation with owners of leased land

8A.10 Informed consent

8A.11 Requirement for permit

Division 8A.3—Access to biological resources for non‑commercial purposes

8A.12 Written permission of access provider required

8A.13 Statutory declaration

8A.14 Requirement for permit

Division 8A.4—Assessment of applications

8A.15 Assessment by Minister

8A.16 Assessment of environmental impact

8A.17 Register for consultation when assessment by public notice is required

Division 8A.5—Register of permits

8A.18 Register of permits

Division 8A.6—Records and samples

8A.19 Permit holder to keep records

8A.20 Disposal of samples

Part 9—Conservation of biodiversity in Commonwealth areas

9.01 Purpose of Part 9

9.02 Application of Part 9

9.03 Offences in relation to protected species

9.03A Permit to carry out prohibited action

9.04 Approved management plan

Part 9A—International movement of wildlife specimens

9A.01 Exchange of specimens

9A.02 Export of personal or household effects

9A.03 Import of personal or household effects

9A.04 Import of CITES II specimens

9A.05 Welfare of live specimens

9A.06 Register of applications and decisions

9A.06A Amendment of list of specimens suitable for import

9A.07 Application for amendment of list of specimens suitable for live import

9A.08 Publication of specifications

9A.09 Export or import for the purposes of research

9A.10 Export or import for the purposes of education

9A.11 Export or import for the purposes of exhibition

9A.12 Export or import for conservation breeding or propagation

9A.13 Export or import of household pets

9A.14 Export or import of personal items

9A.15 Export or import for the purposes of a travelling exhibition

9A.16 Approved captive breeding programs

9A.17 Approved CITES‑registered captive breeding programs

9A.18 Approved artificial propagation programs

9A.19 Approved aquaculture programs

9A.20 Wildlife trade operations and management plans

9A.21 Approved commercial import programs

9A.21A Relevant offences

9A.22 Records

9A.23 Forms

9A.24 Breeding in captivity

9A.25 Artificial propagation

Part 10—Management principles for protected areas

Division 10.1—Australian World Heritage properties

10.01 Australian World Heritage management principles

Division 10.2—Managing National Heritage places

10.01A National Heritage criteria (Act s 324D)

10.01B Nominations of places for inclusion in the National Heritage List

10.01BA Comments to Australian Heritage Council on finalised priority assessment list

10.01BB Comments to Australian Heritage Council on listing of place under threat of significant adverse impact

10.01BC Publication of Minister’s decision on listing of place under threat of a significant adverse impact

10.01C Matters to be addressed in management plan for National Heritage place (Act s 324S)

10.01D Publication of notice about management plan for National Heritage places (Act s 324S)

10.01E National Heritage management principles (Act s 324Y)

Division 10.2A—Adding additional values for National Heritage and Commonwealth Heritage places

10.01BD Purpose of Division

10.01BE Minister may request assessment of additional heritage values for National Heritage or Commonwealth Heritage places

10.01BF Australian Heritage Council to assess additional heritage values and give assessments to Minister

10.01BG Time by which assessments to be provided to Minister

10.01BH Decision about inclusion of a value of a place in the National Heritage List or Commonwealth Heritage List

Division 10.3—Managing wetlands of international importance

10.02 Australian Ramsar management principles

Division 10.4—Managing Biosphere reserves

10.03 Australian Biosphere reserve management principles

Division 10.5—Managing Commonwealth Heritage places

10.03A Commonwealth Heritage criteria (Act s 341D)

10.03AB Nominations of places for inclusion in the Commonwealth Heritage List

10.03AC Comments to Australian Heritage Council on finalised priority assessment list

10.03AD Comments to Australian Heritage Council on listing of place under threat of a significant adverse impact

10.03AE Publication of Minister’s decision on listing of place under threat of a significant adverse impact

10.03B Matters to be addressed in plan for Commonwealth Heritage place (Act s 341S)

10.03C Publication of notice about management plan for Commonwealth Heritage places (Act s 341S)

10.03D Commonwealth Heritage management principles (Act s 341Y)

10.03E Heritage strategies (Act s 341ZA)

10.03F Report about review of heritage strategy (Act s 341ZA)

10.03G Heritage assessments and registers (Act s 341ZB)

Division 10.6—Australian IUCN reserves

10.03H IUCN categories for Commonwealth reserves

10.04 Australian IUCN reserve management principles

Part 11—Commonwealth reserves

Division 11.1—Application

11.01 Application of Part 11

Division 11.2—Boards for Commonwealth reserves on indigenous people’s land

11.02 Disclosure of interests

11.03 Deputy members

11.04 Presiding members

11.05 Meetings

Division 11.3—Special rules for some Commonwealth reserves in the Northern Territory and Jervis Bay Territory

Subdivision 11.3.1—Prescribed routes and activities for mining operations

11.06 Transportation routes in Kakadu National Park

11.07 Pipeline and power line routes in Kakadu National Park

11.08 Activities in Kakadu National Park

Subdivision 11.3.2—Town plans

11.09 Purpose of Subdivision 11.3.2

11.10 Approval of town plan by Director

11.11 Director may prepare plan

11.12 Amending approved plan

11.13 Revocation of town plan

Part 12—Activities in Commonwealth reserves

Division 12.1—Preliminary

12.01 Purpose of Part 12

12.02 Application of Part 12

12.03 Determinations and other decisions made by the Director

12.04 Specifying time by reference to events

12.05 Publication requirement

Division 12.2—Regulatory provisions

Subdivision 12.2.1—Preliminary

12.06 Activities that are not offences under Division 12.2

12.06A Strict liability applies to being in a Commonwealth reserve for offences

12.07 Regulations not applying in Jabiru township

12.08 Authorising activities by indigenous people

12.09 Activities in Commonwealth reserves where management plans in force

Subdivision 12.2.2—General offences

12.10 Scientific research

12.11 Excavating, building and works

12.12 Damaging, defacing features etc

12.13 Damaging etc heritage

12.14 Dumping of industrial waste

12.14A Dumping of domestic waste

12.14B Where industrial or domestic waste may be dumped

12.15 Use of poisonous substances

12.16 Fossicking, removal of earth materials etc

12.17 Activities relating to caves and karst

12.18 Use etc of firearms, nets and other devices

12.19 Taking animals into Commonwealth reserve

12.19A Offences in relation to non‑native species

12.19B Offences in relation to native species

12.19C Complying with a direction in relation to native species

12.19D Removal of shells

12.20 Taking plants into Commonwealth reserve

12.21 Cultivating plants

12.22 Failing to comply with directions to remove plants

12.23 Entering prohibited or restricted area

12.23A Prohibited or restricted activity in a Commonwealth reserve

12.24 Capturing images or recording sound

12.25 Failing to comply with safety directions

12.26 Adventurous activity

12.27 Public nuisance

12.28 Camping

12.29 Failing to comply with directions about camping

12.30 Lighting fires in a total fire ban

12.30A Lighting fires

12.30B Signs relating to lighting fires

12.31 Public gatherings

12.32 Burials

12.33 Erection of commemorative markers

12.34 Commercial fishing

12.35 Fishing other than commercial fishing

12.36 Commercial activities

12.37 Sale of liquor

12.38 Deriving commercial gain from images captured

12.39 Collections

12.40 Erecting signs

Subdivision 12.2.3—Traffic

12.41 Use of roads or tracks by vehicles

12.42 Prohibitions or restrictions on use of roads or tracks

12.43 Speed limits and one‑way traffic

12.44 Parking and stopping

12.44A Signs for controlling traffic

12.45 Parking permits

12.46 Voucher machines and parking vouchers

12.47 Parking fees

12.48 Parking permits and parking vouchers

12.49 Daily parking offence

12.50 Interference with parking permits or parking vouchers

12.51 Abuse of voucher machines

12.52 Unauthorised installation of voucher machines

12.54 Vehicles to stop as required

12.55 Walking or riding on roads or marked tracks

12.55A Signs for controlling pedestrian and non‑motorised vehicles etc

12.56 Use of vessels

12.57 Signs relating to use of vessels

12.58 Use of aircraft

Subdivision 12.2.4—Administration

12.59 Obligation to produce permit

12.60 Removal of trespassers and offenders

12.61 Payment of fees and charges etc

12.62 Liability of owner of vehicle etc for offences

12.63 Copy of statutory declaration to be served with summons

12.64 Impounding or removal of vehicles etc

12.65 Impounding animals

12.66 Control of non‑native species

Part 13—Conservation zones

13.01 Purpose of Part 13

13.02 Application of Regulations for conservation zones

Part 13A—List of Overseas Places of Historic Significance to Australia

13A.01 Removing or varying place or statement

Part 14—Enforcement

Division 14.1—Wardens, rangers and inspectors

14.01 Ranger may ask for person’s name and address

Division 14.1A—Detention of suspected foreign offenders

14.01A Training for officers and detention officers

14.01B Personal identifiers

14.01C Personal identifiers detainees must provide

14.01D Personal identifiers officers must require non‑citizens to provide by way of identification tests

14.01E Information to be provided before carrying out identification tests

14.01F Other personal identifiers

14.01G Providing video recordings—permitted provision

14.01H Authorising disclosure of identifying information

Division 14.2—Infringement notices

14.02 Purpose of Division 14.2

14.03 Infringement notices

14.04 Service of infringement notices

14.05 Extension of time to pay

14.06 Payment by instalments

14.07 If infringement notice disputed

14.08 Payment of penalty if infringement notice not withdrawn

14.09 Effect of payment of infringement notice penalty

14.10 Admissions under paragraph 14.03(2)(h)

14.11 Matter not to be taken into account in determining sentence

14.12 Evidence for hearing

14.13 Payment of penalty by cheque

14.14 Infringement notice not compulsory, etc

Division 14.3—Review of administrative decisions

14.15 Definition for Division 14.3

14.16 Consideration and review of decisions of Director

14.17 Objects or purposes of organisation or association

Part 15—Committees

Division 15.1A—Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Unconventional Gas Development and Large Coal Mining Development

15.01A Functions of the Committee

Division 15.1—Disclosure of interests

15.01 Pecuniary interests

Division 15.2—Committee procedure

15.02 Purpose of Division 15.2

15.03 Convening meetings

15.04 Presiding at meetings

15.05 Quorum

15.06 Voting at meetings

Part 16—Publication

Division 16.1—General publication requirements

16.01 Application of Division 16.1

16.02 Publication requirements

Division 16.2—Publication requirements for specified matters

Subdivision 16.2.1—Assessments and approvals

16.03 Place of publication

16.04 Additional publication requirements for designated proponent

16.04A Additional publication requirements for persons with special needs

16.05 Publication of information about assessments

Subdivision 16.2.2—National and Commonwealth Heritage

16.05A Publication requirements

Subdivision 16.2.3—Bioregional plans

16.05B Public consultation

Division 16.3—Prescribed places for purchase of published material

16.06 Prescribed places for purchase of lists

16.07 Prescribed places for purchase of plans

16.08 Prescribed places for purchase of conservation agreements and lists

Part 17—Permits

17.01 Application of Part 17

17.02 Application for a permit

17.03 Issue of permit

17.03A Permits for access to biological resources

17.03B Access to biological resources—effect of native title

17.04 Content of permits

17.05 Circumstances that must apply

17.06 Statement by applicant

17.07 Relevant offences

17.08 Contravention of condition of permit

17.09 Varying or revoking conditions

17.10 Authorities under permits

17.11 Transfer of a permit

17.12 Suspension or cancellation of a permit

Part 18—Permit fees

18.01 Components of a fee for a permit

18.02 Fee amount

18.03 Increase in administration component of fees

18.04 Exemption from fees

Part 19—Miscellaneous

19.01 Allowances for witnesses

19.01A Delegation

19.02 Definition of Commonwealth agency

Part 20—Application and transitional provisions

20.01 Instruments made and other things done under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000

20.02 Fees

20.03 Relevant offences

Schedule 1—Classes of actions not needing assessment

Schedule 2—Referral information

Schedule 4—Matters to be addressed by draft public environment report and environmental impact statement

Schedule 4A—Import and export of CITES specimens

Schedule 5—Australian World Heritage management principles

Schedule 5A—Management plans for National Heritage places

Schedule 5B—National Heritage management principles

Schedule 6—Australian Ramsar management principles

Schedule 7—Australian Biosphere reserve management principles

Schedule 7A—Management plans for Commonwealth Heritage places

Schedule 7B—Commonwealth Heritage management principles

Schedule 7C—Heritage strategies

Schedule 8—Australian IUCN reserve management principles

Part 1—General administrative principles

Part 2—Principles for each IUCN category

Schedule 9—Routes in Kakadu National Park

Part 1—Transportation routes

Part 2—Pipeline and power line routes

Schedule 10—Infringement notice offences

Schedule 11—Permit fees

Schedule 12—Protected species

Dictionary