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ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT 1999

Table of Provisions

 

CHAPTER 1--Preliminary

 

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

CHAPTER 2--Protecting the environment

 

PART 2--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE OF THIS CHAPTER

  • 11 Simplified outline of this Chapter  

PART 3--REQUIREMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS

Division 1--Requirements relating to matters of national environmental significance

Division 2--Protection of the environment from proposals involving the Commonwealth

  • 26 Requirement for approval of activities involving Commonwealth  
  • 27 What is Commonwealth land?  
  • 27A Offences relating to Commonwealth land  
  • 28 Requirement for approval of activities of Commonwealth agencies  

Division 3--Review of extension of operation of this Part

  • 28A Identifying extra matters to be protected by this Part  

PART 4--CASES IN WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS ARE NOT NEEDED

Division 1--Actions covered by bilateral agreements

  • 29 Actions declared by agreement not to need approval  
  • 30 Extended operation in State and Northern Territory  
  • 31 Extended operation in non-self-governing Territories  

Division 2--Actions covered by Ministerial declarations

  • 32 Actions declared by Minister not to need approval  
  • 33 Making declaration that actions do not need approval under Part  
  • 34 What is matter protected by a provision of Part  
  • 34A Minister may only make declaration if prescribed criteria are  
  • 34B Declarations relating to declared World Heritage  
  • 34C Declarations relating to declared Ramsar wetlands  
  • 34D Declarations relating to listed threatened species and ecological  
  • 34E Declarations relating to migratory species  
  • 35 Revoking declarations  
  • 36 Other rules about declarations  

Division 4--Forestry operations in certain regions

Division 5--Actions in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

  • 43 Actions taken in accordance with permission  
    •  

CHAPTER 3--Bilateral agreements

 

PART 5--BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

Division 1--Object of Part

  • 44 Object of this Part  

Division 2--Making bilateral agreements

Division 3--Suspending and ending the effect of bilateral agreements

  • 57 Representations about suspension or cancellation  
  • 58 Consultation before cancellation or suspension  
  • 59 Suspension or cancellation  
  • 60 Emergency suspension of effect of bilateral agreement  
  • 61 Cancellation during suspension  
  • 62 Revocation of notice of suspension or cancellation  
  • 63 Cancellation or suspension at request of other party  
  • 64 Cancellation or suspension of bilateral agreement does not affect  
  • 65 Expiry and review of bilateral agreements  
  • 65A Expiry of bilateral agreement does not affect certain  
    •  

CHAPTER 4--Environmental assessments and approvals

 

PART 6--SIMPLIFIED OUTLINE OF THIS CHAPTER

  • 66 Simplified outline of this Chapter  

PART 7--DECIDING WHETHER APPROVAL OF ACTIONS IS NEEDED

Division 1--Referral of proposals to take action

  • 67 What is a controlled action?  
  • 68 Referral by person proposing to take action  
  • 69 State or Territory may refer proposal to Minister  
  • 70 Minister may request referral of proposal  
  • 71 Commonwealth agency may refer proposal to Minister  
  • 72 Form and content of referrals  
  • 73 Informing person proposing to take action of referral  
  • 74 Inviting provision of information on referred proposal  

Division 2--Ministerial decision whether action needs approval

  • 75 Does the proposed action need approval?  
  • 76 Minister may request more information for making  
  • 77 Notice and reasons for decision  
  • 78 Reconsideration of decision  
  • 79 Reconsideration of decision on request by a State or  

PART 8--ASSESSING IMPACTS OF CONTROLLED ACTIONS

Division 1--Simplified outline of this Part

  • 80 Simplified outline of this Part  

Division 2--Application of this Part

Division 3--Decision on assessment approach

  • 85 Simplified outline of this Division  
  • 86 Designated proponent must provide preliminary information for  
  • 87 Minister must decide on approach for assessment  
  • 88 Timing of decision on assessment approach  
  • 89 Minister may request more information for making  
  • 90 Directing an inquiry after starting an assessment  
  • 91 Notice of decision on assessment approach  

Division 4--Assessment on preliminary documentation

  • 92 Application  
  • 93 Public comment on information included in referral  
  • 94 Revised documentation  
  • 95 Assessment report  

Division 5--Public environment reports

Division 6--Environmental impact statements

Division 7--Inquiries

  • 106 Simplified outline  
  • 107 Appointing commissioners and setting terms of reference  
  • 108 Publicising inquiry  
  • 109 Procedure of inquiries  
  • 110 Inquiry to be public  
  • 111 Calling witnesses  
  • 112 Dealing with witnesses  
  • 113 Dealing with documents given to commission  
  • 114 Inspections of land, buildings and places  
  • 115 Entering premises by consent  
  • 116 Entering premises under warrant  
  • 117 Warrants by telephone or other electronic means  
  • 118 Identity cards  
  • 119 Contempt  
  • 120 Protection of commissioners and witnesses  
  • 121 Timing of report  
  • 122 Publication of report  
  • 123 Basis of appointment  
  • 124 Remuneration  
  • 125 Leave of absence  
  • 126 Resignation  
  • 127 Termination of appointment  
  • 128 Disclosure of interests  
  • 129 Other terms and conditions  

PART 9--APPROVAL OF ACTIONS

Division 1--Decisions on approval and conditions

  • 130 Timing of decision on approval  
  • 131 Inviting comments from other Ministers before decision  
  • 132 Requesting further information for approval decision  
  • 133 Grant of approval  
  • 134 Attaching conditions to approval  
  • 135 Certain approvals and conditions must not give  
  • 136 General considerations  
  • 137 Requirements for decisions about World Heritage  
  • 138 Requirements for decisions about Ramsar wetlands  
  • 139 Requirements for decisions about threatened species and  
  • 140 Requirements for decisions about migratory species  
  • 140A No approval for certain nuclear installations  

Division 2--Requirement to comply with conditions

  • 142 Compliance with conditions on approval  
  • 142A Offence of breaching conditions on approval  

Division 3--Variation of conditions and suspension and revocation of approvals

  • 143 Variation of conditions attached to approval  
  • 144 Suspension of approval  
  • 145 Revocation of approval  
  • 145A Reinstating suspended or revoked approval  

Division 4--Transfer of approvals

  • 145B Transfer with Minister's consent  

PART 10--STRATEGIC ASSESSMENTS

Division 1--Strategic assessments generally

Division 2--Assessment of Commonwealth-managed fisheries

  • 147 Simplified outline of this Division  
  • 148 Assessment before management plan is determined  
  • 149 Assessment before determination that no plan required  
  • 150 Assessment of all fisheries without plans must be started within  
  • 151 Assessment of all Torres Strait fisheries to be started within 5  
  • 152 Further assessment if impacts greater than previously  
  • 153 Minister must make declaration if he or she endorses plan or  
  • 154 This Division does not limit Division 1  

PART 11--MISCELLANEOUS RULES ABOUT ASSESSMENTS AND APPROVALS

Division 1--Rules about timing

  • 155 This Chapter ceases to apply to lapsed proposals  
  • 156 General rules about time limits  

Division 2--Actions in area offshore from a State or the Northern Territory

  • 157 Actions treated as though they were in a State or the Northern  

Division 3--Exemptions

  • 158 Exemptions from Part 3 and this Chapter  

Division 4--Application of Chapter to actions that are not controlled actions

  • 159 Simplified outline of this Subdivision  
  • 160 Requirement to take account of Minister's advice  
  • 161 Seeking the Minister's advice  
  • 162 Assessment of the action  
  • 163 Providing advice  
  • 164 Reporting on response to advice  
  • 165 Assessment of applications for permits relating to whales,  
  • 166 This Subdivision applies if Ministers agree it should  
  • 167 Making an agreement  
  • 168 Content of an agreement  
  • 169 Application of a Division of Part 8  
  • 170 Application of Division 1 of Part 10  

Division 5--Publication of information relating to assessments

CHAPTER 5--Conservation of biodiversity

 

PART 12--IDENTIFYING AND MONITORING BIODIVERSITY AND MAKING BIOREGIONAL PLANS

Division 1--Identifying and monitoring biodiversity

Division 2--Bioregional plans

  • 176 Bioregional plans  
  • 177 Obligations under this Act unaffected by lack of bioregional  

PART 13--SPECIES AND COMMUNITIES

Division 1--Listed threatened species and ecological communities

Division 2--Migratory species

Division 3--Whales and other cetaceans

Division 4--Listed marine species

Division 4A--Register for consultations about permits

  • 266A Register for consultation about permit applications  

Division 5--Plans

Division 6--Access to biological resources

Division 6A--Control of non-native species

  • 301A Regulations for control of non-native species  

Division 7--Aid for conservation of species in foreign countries

  • 302 Aid for conservation of species in foreign countries  

Division 8--Miscellaneous

PART 14--CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS

PART 15--PROTECTED AREAS

Division 1--Managing World Heritage properties

  • 313 Simplified outline of this Division  
  • 314 Special provisions relating to World Heritage  
  • 315 Minister must give notice of submission of property for listing  
  • 316 Making plans  
  • 317 Notice of plans  
  • 318 Compliance with plans  
  • 319 Review of plans every 5 years  
  • 320 Application  
  • 321 Co-operating to prepare and implement plans  
  • 322 Commonwealth responsibilities  
  • 323 Australian World Heritage management principles  
  • 324 Commonwealth assistance for protecting declared World Heritage  

Division 2--Managing wetlands of international importance

  • 325 Simplified outline of this Division  
  • 326 Commonwealth must seek agreement before designation  
  • 327 Minister must give notice of designation of wetland  
  • 328 Making plans  
  • 329 Notice of plans  
  • 330 Compliance with plans  
  • 331 Review of plans every 5 years  
  • 332 Application  
  • 333 Co-operating to prepare and implement plans  
  • 334 Commonwealth responsibilities  
  • 335 Australian Ramsar management principles  
  • 336 Commonwealth assistance for protecting declared Ramsar  

Division 3--Managing Biosphere reserves

Division 4--Commonwealth reserves

Division 5--Conservation zones

CHAPTER 6--Administration

 

PART 16--APPLICATION OF PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE IN DECISION-MAKING

PART 17--ENFORCEMENT

Division 1--Wardens, rangers and inspectors

Division 2--Boarding of vessels etc. and access to premises by consent

Division 3--Monitoring of compliance

Division 4--Search warrants

  • 413 When search warrants can be issued  
  • 414 Statements in warrants  
  • 415 Powers of magistrate  
  • 416 Warrants by telephone or other electronic means  
  • 417 The things that are authorised by a search warrant  
  • 418 Availability of assistance, and use of force, in executing a  
  • 419 Details of warrant to be given to occupier etc.  
  • 420 Specific powers available to person executing warrant  
  • 421 Use of equipment to examine or process things  
  • 422 Use of electronic equipment at premises  
  • 423 Compensation for damage to electronic equipment  
  • 424 Copies of seized things to be provided  
  • 425 Occupier entitled to be present during search  
  • 426 Receipts for things seized under warrant  
  • 427 Restrictions on personal searches  
  • 428 When a thing is in the possession of a person  

Division 5--Stopping and searching aircraft, vehicles or vessels

Division 6--Arrest and related matters

Division 7--Miscellaneous provisions about searches, entry to premises, warrants etc.

  • 434 Conduct of ordinary searches and frisk searches  
  • 435 Announcement before entry  
  • 436 Offence of making false statements in warrants  
  • 437 Offences relating to telephone warrants  
  • 438 Retention of things which are seized  
  • 439 Magistrate may permit a thing to be retained  
  • 440 Law relating to legal professional privilege not  
  • 441 Other laws about search, arrest etc. not affected  
  • 442 Persons to assist authorised officers  

Division 8--Power to search goods, baggage etc.

Division 9--Power to ask for names and addresses

  • 444 Authorised person may ask for person's name and address  

Division 10--Seizure and forfeiture etc.

  • 445 Seizure of goods  
  • 446 Retention of goods that have been seized  
  • 447 Disposal of goods if there is no owner or owner cannot be  
  • 448 Release of goods that have been seized  
  • 449 Immediate disposal of seized items  
  • 450 Court-ordered forfeiture  
  • 451 Dealings in forfeited items  
  • 452 Delivery of forfeited items to the Commonwealth  
  • 453 Keeping of organisms retained under this Part  
  • 454 Recovery of costs of storing or keeping organisms  
  • 455 Rescuing goods  
  • 456 Breaking or destroying goods or documents to prevent seizure  

Division 11--Powers of pursuit

  • 457 Power to pursue persons etc.  

Division 12--Environmental audits

Division 13--Conservation orders

Division 14--Injunctions

  • 475 Injunctions for contravention of the Act  
  • 476 Injunctions for contraventions of conservation  
  • 477 Discharge of injunctions  
  • 478 No undertakings as to damages  
  • 479 Certain considerations for granting injunctions not  
  • 480 Powers conferred are in addition to other powers of the  

Division 15--Civil penalties

  • 481 Federal Court may order person to pay pecuniary penalty for  
  • 482 What is a civil penalty provision?  
  • 483 Contravening a civil penalty provision is not an  
  • 484 Persons involved in contravening civil penalty  
  • 485 Recovery of a pecuniary penalty  
  • 486 Gathering information for application for pecuniary  
  • 486A Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings  
  • 486B Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings  
  • 486C Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings  
  • 486D Evidence given in proceedings for penalty not admissible in  

Division 16--Review of administrative decisions

  • 487 Extended standing for judicial review  
  • 488 Applications on behalf of unincorporated organisations  

Division 17--Duty to provide accurate information

  • 489 Providing false or misleading information to obtain approval or  
  • 490 Providing false or misleading information in response to a  
  • 491 Providing false or misleading information to authorised officer  

Division 18--Liability of executive officers for corporations

Division 19--Infringement notices

  • 497 Infringement notices  

Division 20--Publicising contraventions

  • 498 Minister may publicise contraventions of this Act or the  

Division 21--Immunity of officers

  • 498A Immunity of officers and assistants  

PART 18--REMEDYING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

  • 499 Commonwealth powers to remedy environmental damage  
  • 500 Liability for loss or damage caused by contravention  
  • 501 Other powers not affected  

PART 19--ORGANISATIONS

Division 1--Establishment and functions of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee

  • 502 Establishment  
  • 503 Functions of the Committee  

Division 2--Establishment and functions of the Biological Diversity Advisory Committee

  • 504 Establishment  
  • 505 Functions of the Committee  

Division 2A--Indigenous Advisory Committee

  • 505A Establishment  
  • 505B Functions of the Committee  

Division 3--Members and procedures of Committees

  • 506 Application  
  • 507 Terms and conditions  
  • 508 Remuneration  
  • 509 Termination of appointments of Committee members  
  • 510 Procedure of a Committee  

Division 4--Advisory committees

  • 511 Minister may establish advisory committees  
  • 512 Appointments  
  • 513 Members of advisory committees  
  • 514 Committee procedure  

Division 5--Director of National Parks

  • 514A Continuation  
  • 514B Functions  
  • 514C Powers  
  • 514D Requirements relating to functions and powers  
  • 514E Constitution  
  • 514F Appointment  
  • 514G Acting appointments  
  • 514H Term of office  
  • 514J Remuneration  
  • 514K Outside employment  
  • 514L Disclosure of interests  
  • 514M Leave of absence  
  • 514N Resignation  
  • 514P Termination  
  • 514Q Other terms and conditions  
  • 514R Australian National Parks Fund  
  • 514S Payments to Australian National Parks Fund  
  • 514T Application of money  
  • 514U Modification of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies  
  • 514V Extra matters to be included in annual report  
  • 514W Exemption from taxation  
  • 514X Changes in office of Director  

PART 20--DELEGATION

  • 515 Delegation  

PART 21--REPORTING

Division 1--Annual reports

  • 516 Annual report on operation of Act  
  • 516A Annual reports to deal with environmental matters  

Division 2--State of the environment reports

CHAPTER 7--Miscellaneous

 

PART 22--MISCELLANEOUS

CHAPTER 8--Definitions

 

PART 23--DEFINITIONS

Division 1--Some definitions relating to particular topics

Division 2--General list of definitions

  • 528 Definitions  

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