Interim National Environmental

Standards for Matters of National

Environmental Significance
Standard for all matters of national environmental
significance
Element Description

Matters of national environmental significance are protected to support the

Environmental sustainable, long-term conservation of Australia’s unique biodiversity and heritage
Outcome and the important social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits it
provides.

Decisions (or other things) relevant to matters of national environmental

significance (MNES):
1) Accord with the objects of the EPBC Act.
2) Take into account the principles of ecologically sustainable development
(including the precautionary principle).
3) Are not inconsistent with relevant international agreements.
4) Are not inconsistent with any relevant management plans, threat abatement
plans or recovery plans, and have regard to any approved conservation
advice where relevant.
5) Promote management of protected areas in accordance with the
management principles adopted under the EPBC Act.
6) Provide adequate opportunity for the engagement and input of governments,
the community, land-holders and Indigenous Australians, consistent with the
EPBC Act.
7) Demonstrate compliance with the EPBC Act and EPBC Regulations, or
relevant bilaterally accredited management arrangement or authorisation
process.
National Standard Environmental assessment and approval decisions relevant to matters of national
environmental significance (MNES):
8) Are subject to adequate assessment of the impacts that the action or
actions have or will have, or are likely to have on matters of national
environmental significance, including:
a) assessment based on adequate information about relevant impacts of
all relevant components of the action on matters of national
environmental significance to enable an informed assessment and
decision on whether or not to approve the action
b) public comment, including provisions for particular needs groups
c) transparent and accessible publication of assessment documentation
d) where relevant, advice from the Independent Expert Scientific
Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development,
and
e) conditions of approval where these are necessary or convenient to
protect a matter of national environmental significance, or repair or
mitigate damage to a matter of national environmental significance for
which the approval has effect (whether or not the damage may or will
be, or has been, caused by the action).

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 Element Description

9) Will not have unacceptable or unsustainable impacts on MNES.

10) Seek to minimise harm to MNES, taking into account all reasonably
practicable measures to avoid and then to mitigate significant impacts, and
then lastly apply appropriate offsets.
11) Consider, in so far as they are not inconsistent with any other requirement of
the EPBC Act:
a) matters relevant to any MNES to which the assessment and approval
relates, and
b) economic and social matters.

EPBC Act policies and guidelines

Further information
Engage Early—Guidance for proponents on best practice Indigenous
engagement for environmental assessments under the EPBC Act

This National Environmental Standard must be reviewed within 2 years of

commencement, and thereafter at intervals of not more than 5 years.
Review
A written report of the review must be provided to the Minister. The Minister must
cause a copy of the report to be published as soon as practicable after the report
is given to the Minister.

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with all other relevant National Environmental
Standards.

Definitions
Impacts: defined at section 527E of the EPBC Act.

Objects of the EPBC Act: defined at section 3 of the EPBC Act.

Offset: The use of environmental offsets is consistent with section 134(3) of the EPBC Act and
Schedule 2(6) of the EPBC Regulations, and reflects Australia’s international commitments under
Section 1(a) of Article 14 (Impact Assessment and Minimizing Adverse Impacts) of the Convention on
Biological Diversity. Further information is provided in the EPBC Act Environmental Offsets Policy
(2012, as updated from time to time).

Principles of ecologically sustainable development (including the precautionary principle):

defined at section 3A of the EPBC Act.

Promote: has the same meaning as in the EPBC Act, where the term is given its ordinary meaning,
including but not limited to it having an identifiable positive outcome on the matter to be promoted.
Whether or not something is promoted will be determined with reference to the relevant sections of the
Act, for example the management of a property in accordance with the Australian World Heritage
Management Principles (section 34B) or the conservation status of a threatened species or ecological
community (section 53).

Significant impact: Sections 12-24E of the EPBC Act prohibit a person from taking an action that
has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental
significance, unless the action is approved or otherwise exempt from the need for approval. See the
Significant Impact Guidelines 1.1: Matters of National Environmental Significance (2013, as updated
from time to time) for more information about assessing the significance of impacts on matters of
national environmental significance. Note also that ‘Impact’ is defined at section 527E of the EPBC
Act.

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

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Unacceptable or unsustainable impacts: Section 46(3)(c) of the EPBC Act requires that actions
approved under a bilateral agreement not have unacceptable or unsustainable impacts on relevant
MNES. Section 74B of the EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that the Minister
considers is clearly unacceptable. Section 133(7) of the EPBC Act enables the Minister to refuse to
approve the taking of an action, based on an assessment of the impacts of the action on relevant
MNES. Examples of what may constitute an unacceptable or unsustainable impact are set out in
section 59 of the EPBC Act and include:

(a) The approval of an action that is not consistent with the protection, conservation and presentation
of the world heritage values of a declared world heritage property;
(b) The approval of an action that has a significant adverse impact on the ecological character of a
declared Ramsar wetland;
(c) The approval of an action that would cause a listed threatened species to become more
threatened.

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Matter-specific Standards
World Heritage
World Heritage properties are cultural and/or natural heritage places considered to have Outstanding
Universal Value by the international community. They are properties inscribed on the UNESCO World
Heritage List that Australia has committed to protect under the World Heritage Convention for present
and future generations.

The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that has, will have or is likely to have a
significant impact on the World Heritage values of a declared World Heritage property, unless the
action is approved or otherwise exempt from the need for approval.

Element Description

Environmental The Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties are identified,
Outcome protected, conserved, presented and transmitted to future generations.

Decisions (or other things) that relate to World Heritage properties:

1) Are not inconsistent with Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage
Convention.
2) Promote the management of World Heritage properties in accordance with
the Australian World Heritage Management Principles, including:
a) management planning for each World Heritage property
b) monitor and report on the state of the World Heritage values of each
World Heritage property
c) provide for public consultation, including with people or groups having a
special interest in the property or place, or likely to be especially
affected by a decision or thing relating to the World Heritage property
d) assessment of actions that are likely to have a significant impact on the
World Heritage values of a World Heritage property (whether the
action is to occur inside the property or not), including:
i) the assessment process should identify and examine how the
World Heritage values of the property are likely to be affected by
the action
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ii) an action should not be approved if it would be inconsistent with
the protection, conservation, presentation or transmission to future
generations of the World Heritage values of a World Heritage
property
iii) approval of an action should be subject to conditions that are
necessary to ensure protection, conservation, presentation or
transmission to future generations of the World Heritage values of
a World Heritage property, and
iv) the action should be monitored by the authority responsible for
giving the approval (or another appropriate authority) and, if
necessary, enforcement action should be taken to ensure
compliance with the conditions of the approval.
3) Are not inconsistent with a management plan for the World Heritage
property made in accordance with the EPBC Act.
4) The Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency must not:
a) contravene a plan made for a World Heritage property that is entirely
within one or more Commonwealth areas, or
b) authorise another person to do, or omit to do, anything that, if it were
done or omitted to be done by the Commonwealth or the

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 Element Description

Commonwealth agency (as appropriate), would contravene a plan

made for a World Heritage property that is entirely within one or more
Commonwealth areas.

General information about Australia’s listed heritage places

Further Information Australian Heritage Database

UNESCO World Heritage List – Australian properties

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
Outstanding Universal Value: Outstanding Universal Value should be understood in accordance
with paragraphs 49-53 and 77-78 of the UNESCO World Heritage Operational Guidelines (2019, as
updated from time to time), and includes the criteria under which the property is inscribed on the World
Heritage List, the statements of authenticity and/or integrity, and the statement of protection and
management. These may include natural, human or cultural values related to listed property.

Promote: has the same meaning as in the EPBC Act, where the term is given its ordinary meaning,
including but not limited to it having an identifiable positive outcome on the matter to be promoted.
Whether or not something is promoted will be determined with reference to the relevant sections of the
Act, for example the management of a property in accordance with the Australian World Heritage
Management Principles (section 34B) or the conservation status of a threatened species or ecological
community (section 53).

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

World Heritage Convention: means the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage. Australia ratified the World Heritage Convention in August 1974. Signatories to the
convention agreed to take effective and active measures for the protection, conservation and
presentation of the cultural and natural heritage.

World Heritage Management Principles: defined in regulation 10.01 of the EPBC Regulations.

World Heritage property: defined at section 13 of the EPBC Act. Includes the areas within the
boundary of the listed property. Where properties have a buffer zone these zones should be taken into
account.

World Heritage Values: defined at section 12(3) of the EPBC Act.

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National Heritage
National Heritage places comprise natural, historic and Indigenous places of outstanding heritage
significance to Australia. National Heritage places support Australia’s commitments under international
conventions.

The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that has, will have or is likely to have a
significant impact on the National Heritage values of a National Heritage place, unless the action is
approved or otherwise exempt from the need for approval.

Element Description

Environmental The National Heritage values of Australia’s National Heritage places are
Outcome identified, protected, conserved, presented and transmitted to future generations.

Decisions (or other things) that relate to National Heritage places:

1) Promote the management of National Heritage places in accordance with

the National Heritage Management Principles, including:
a) management planning for National Heritage places
b) monitor and report on the state of the National Heritage values of
each National Heritage places
c) provide for public consultation, including with people or groups having a
special interest in the property or place, or likely to be especially
affected by a decision or thing relating to the National Heritage place,
and
d) support the active participation of indigenous people in identification,
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assessment and management and effective protection of indigenous
heritage values associated with National Heritage places.
2) Are not inconsistent with a management plan for the National Heritage
place made in accordance with the EPBC Act.
3) The Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency must not:
a) contravene a plan made for a National Heritage place that is entirely
within one or more Commonwealth areas, or
b) authorise another person to do, or omit to do, anything that, if it were
done or omitted to be done by the Commonwealth or the
Commonwealth agency (as appropriate), would contravene a plan
made for a National Heritage place that is entirely within one or more
Commonwealth areas.

Australian Heritage Database

Further Information
General information about Australia’s listed heritage places

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
National Heritage place: defined at section 324C(3) of the EPBC Act. Includes the areas within the
boundary of the listed place.

National Heritage Management Principles: defined in regulation 10.01E of the EPBC Regulations.

National Heritage values: defined at section 324D of the EPBC Act. Identified in the gazetted
National Heritage listing instrument and are published on the Australian Heritage Database. These
may include natural, human or cultural values related to listed place.

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Promote: has the same meaning as in the EPBC Act, where the term is given its ordinary meaning,
including but not limited to it having an identifiable positive outcome on the matter to be promoted.
Whether or not something is promoted will be determined with reference to the relevant sections of the
Act, for example the management of a property in accordance with the Australian World Heritage
Management Principles (section 34B) or the conservation status of a threatened species or ecological
community (section 53).

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

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Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar wetlands)
Wetlands of international importance are globally recognised important wetlands and listed under the
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) or declared by the Minister
to be a declared Ramsar wetland under section 16 of the EPBC Act.

The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that has, will have or is likely to have a
significant impact on the ecological character of a declared Ramsar wetland, unless the action is
approved or otherwise exempt from the need for approval.

Element Description

The ecological character of each Ramsar wetland of international importance is

Environmental
maintained through the conservation, management and wise use of the wetland,
Outcome
having regard to ecologically sustainable development.

Decisions (or other things) that relate to Ramsar wetlands:

1) Are not inconsistent with Australia’s obligations under the Ramsar
Convention.
2) Promote the management of the Ramsar wetland in accordance with the
Australian Ramsar Management Principles, including:
a) management planning for each Ramsar wetland
b) monitor and report on the state of the ecological character of each
Ramsar wetland
c) provide for public consultation, including with people or groups having a
special interest in the property or place, or likely to be especially
affected by a decision or thing relating to the Ramsar wetland
d) assessment of actions that are likely to have a significant impact on the
ecological character of each Ramsar wetland (whether the action is
to occur inside the wetland or not), including:
i) the assessment process should identify and examine how the
ecological character of the Ramsar wetland is likely to be
affected by the action
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ii) an action should not be approved if it would be inconsistent with
maintaining the ecological character of the Ramsar wetland or
providing for the conservation and sustainable use of the wetland
iii) approval of the action should be subject to conditions, if necessary,
to ensure that the ecological character of the Ramsar wetland is
maintained, and
iv) the action should be monitored by the authority responsible for
giving the approval (or another appropriate authority) and, if
necessary, enforcement action should be taken to ensure
compliance with the conditions of the approval.
3) The Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency must not:
a) contravene a plan made for a Ramsar wetland that is entirely within
one or more Commonwealth areas, or
b) authorise another person to do, or omit to do, anything that, if it were
done or omitted to be done by the Commonwealth or the
Commonwealth agency (as appropriate), would contravene a plan
made for a Ramsar wetland that is entirely within one or more
Commonwealth areas

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 Element Description

General wetlands information

Australian wetlands database - information about Australia’s Ramsar wetlands,

Further Information including location and boundary maps, Ramsar Information Sheets and Ecological
Character Descriptions.

Australian National Guidelines for Ramsar Wetlands

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
Australian Ramsar Management Principles: defined in regulation 10.02 of the EPBC Regulations.

Ecological character: the combination of the ecosystem components, processes and

benefits/services that characterise a wetland at a given point in time (as per Ramsar Resolution IX.1
Annex A para 15). The ecological character of each Australian Ramsar wetland is as described in its
Ramsar Information Sheet and Ecological Character Description.

Promote: has the same meaning as in the EPBC Act, where the term is given its ordinary meaning,
including but not limited to it having an identifiable positive outcome on the matter to be promoted.
Whether or not something is promoted will be determined with reference to the relevant sections of the
Act, for example the management of a property in accordance with the Australian World Heritage
Management Principles (section 34B) or the conservation status of a threatened species or ecological
community (section 53).

Ramsar Convention: means the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as

Waterfowl Habitat, as entered into force in Australia on 21 December 1975. Signatories to the
convention agreed to halt and, where possible, reverse, the worldwide loss of wetlands and to
conserve those that remain through wise use and management.

Ramsar wetland(s): defined at section 17 of the EPBC Act. Includes the areas within the boundary of
the listed wetland, and its buffer zone (as relevant). The Australian wetlands database provides
information about location and boundaries of Australia’s Ramsar wetlands. Some Ramsar wetlands
have catchments that cross state or territory borders. Catchment mapping is available.

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

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Threatened Species and Ecological Communities
Threatened species and ecological communities are listed under section 178 of the EPBC Act,
following a scientific assessment of their threat status against a set of criteria in the EPBC Act. The
Australian Government and all states and territories are cooperating to implement a common
assessment method for the assessment and listing of threatened species.

The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that has, will have or is likely to have a
significant impact on a listed threatened species or listed threatened ecological community, unless the
action is approved or otherwise exempt from the need for approval.

Element Description

Environmental Threatened species and ecological communities are protected, conserved,

Outcome managed and recovered over time.

Decisions (or other things) that relate to threatened species and ecological
communities:
1) Are not inconsistent with Australia’s obligations under:
a) the Convention on Biological Diversity
b) the Apia Convention, or
c) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora.
2) Promote the survival and/or enhance the conservation status of threatened
National Standard species and ecological communities.
3) Have regard to relevant conservation advices.
4) Are not inconsistent with any recovery plan for the threatened species or
community or a threat abatement plan.
5) A Commonwealth agency must not take any action that contravenes a
recovery plan or a threat abatement plan.
Requirements in Commonwealth areas:

6) Do not kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a listed threatened species or
ecological community, or knowingly damage critical habitat, except where
a permit is issued or exemption applies.

The Species Profiles and Threats (SPRAT) database contains links to recovery
plans and conservation advices as well as an interactive map showing the species
modelled habitat and other important information sources like listing advices and
Further Information
threat abatement plans.

EPBC Act policies and guidelines relating to threatened species and

ecological communities.
This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
Critical habitat: defined at section 207A of the EPBC Act.

Conservation advice: an approved conservation advice is a document prepared in accordance with

section 266B(2) of the EPBC Act.

Permit: a permit required under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Exemptions are provided under section 197
of the EPBC Act.

Promote: has the same meaning as in the EPBC Act, where the term is given its ordinary meaning,
including but not limited to it having an identifiable positive outcome on the matter to be promoted.

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Whether or not something is promoted will be determined with reference to the relevant sections of the
Act, for example the management of a property in accordance with the Australian World Heritage
Management Principles (section 34B) or the conservation status of a threatened species or ecological
community (section 53).

Recovery plan: a plan made or adopted under section 269A of the EPBC Act.

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

Threat Abatement Plan: a plan made or adopted under section 270B of the EPBC Act.

Threatened species and ecological community: a species or community included in the list referred
to at section 178 or 181 of the EPBC Act.

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Migratory Species
Migratory species are listed under section 209 of the EPBC Act and reflect those listed on international
agreements to which Australia is a party. Examples of migratory species are species of birds (e.g.
albatrosses and petrels), mammals (e.g. whales) or reptiles (e.g. marine turtles).

The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that has, will have or is likely to have a
significant impact on a listed migratory species, unless the action is approved or otherwise exempt
from the need for approval.

Element Description

Environmental
Migratory species are protected, conserved and managed within Australia.
Outcome

Decisions (or other things) that relate to migratory species:

1) Are not inconsistent with Australia’s obligations under whichever of the
following conventions or agreements the migratory species is listed:
a) the Bonn Convention
b) CAMBA
c) JAMBA, or
d) an international agreement approved under the EPBC Act.
National Standard 2) Promote the survival and/or enhance the conservation status of each
migratory species.
3) A Commonwealth agency must:
a) not take any action that contravenes a threat abatement plan, and
b) take all reasonable steps to act in accordance with a wildlife
conservation plan.
Requirements in Commonwealth areas:
4) Do not kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a listed migratory species in a
Commonwealth Area, except where a permit is issued or exemption applies.

See also:

The Species Profiles and Threats (SPRAT) database contains links to wildlife
conservation plans and as well as an interactive map showing the species modelled
Further Information
habitat and other important information sources like listing advices, threat
abatement plans

EPBC Act policies and guidelines relating to migratory species.

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
International agreement: an international agreement entered into by the Government of Australia
relating to migratory birds, and made under the EPBC Act. Australia has entered into such
agreements with the China (CAMBA), Japan (JAMBA) and the Republic of Korea (ROKAMBA).
Further information is available at: www.environment.gov.au.

Migratory species: a species included in the list referred to at section 209 of the EPBC Act.

Permit: a permit required under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Exemptions are provided under section 212
and 231 of the EPBC Act.

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Promote: has the same meaning as in the EPBC Act, where the term is given its ordinary meaning,
including but not limited to it having an identifiable positive outcome on the matter to be promoted.
Whether or not something is promoted will be determined with reference to the relevant sections of the
Act, for example the management of a property in accordance with the Australian World Heritage
Management Principles (section 34B) or the conservation status of a threatened species or ecological
community (section 53).

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

Threat abatement plan: a plan made or adopted under section 270B of the EPBC Act.

Wildlife conservation plan: a plan made or adopted under section 285 of the EPBC Act.

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Commonwealth Marine Environment
The Commonwealth marine area is any part of the sea, including the waters, seabed, and airspace,
within Australia's exclusive economic zone and/or over the continental shelf of Australia, that is not
state or Northern Territory waters. The Commonwealth marine area stretches from 3 up to 200
nautical miles from the coast. The Commonwealth marine area includes most of Australia’s oceans.
The EPBC Act protects ‘the environment’ of the Commonwealth marine area.

Australia has declared a number of Commonwealth reserves in the Commonwealth marine area.
These are commonly known as Australian Marine Parks.

The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that has, will have or is likely to have a
significant impact on the environment of the Commonwealth marine area, unless the action is
approved or otherwise exempt from the need for approval.

Element Description

Environmental The environment of Commonwealth marine areas is protected and sustainably

Outcome managed.

Decisions (or other things) that relate to the Commonwealth marine area:
1) Have regard to relevant marine bioregional plans.
Requirements in declared Commonwealth marine reserves:

2) Manage Commonwealth marine reserves in accordance with the

Australian IUCN Reserve Management Principles relevant to each
reserve or zone, including:
a) transparent, effective and adaptive management planning for
Commonwealth marine reserves
b) broad and meaningful participation by the community, public
organisations and private interests in designing and carrying out the
functions of the reserve or zone
c) if resource use is consistent with the management principles that apply
to a reserve or zone, it should be based on the principles of ecologically
sustainable use, and
d) joint management, where the reserve is wholly or partly owned with
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Indigenous Australians.
3) The Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency must:
a) manage a Commonwealth marine reserve to give effect to a marine
park management plan for the reserve, and
b) not perform its functions or exercise its powers in relation to a
Commonwealth marine reserve inconsistently with a marine park
management plan that is in operation for the reserve.
Requirements in Commonwealth areas:
4) Do not kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a marine species, except
where a permit is issued or exemption applies.
Requirements for cetaceans in the Australian Whale Sanctuary or prescribed
waters:
5) Do not kill, injure, take, trade (acquire or dispose of through sale, agreement
or barter etc), keep, move, interfere with (harass, chase, herd, tag, mark or
brand), treat (divide or cut up, or extract any product from the cetacean) or
possess a cetacean, except where a permit is issued or exemption applies.

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 Element Description

Australian Marine Parks

Marine park management plans

Marine Bioregional Plans

Commonwealth fisheries harvest strategy policy and guidelines

Further Information
Commonwealth Bycatch strategy

Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries (2007, as

updated from time to time)

EPBC Act Policy Statement 2.1 - Interaction between offshore seismic exploration
and whales: Industry guidelines

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
Australian Whale Sanctuary: defined at section 225 of the EPBC Act.

Commonwealth marine area: defined at section 24 of the EPBC Act.

Commonwealth marine reserve: an area of sea in the Commonwealth marine area declared under
section 344 of the EPBC Act to be a Commonwealth reserve, commonly known as Australian Marine
Parks.

Marine bioregional plans: section 176 of the EPBC Act provides for the making of bioregional plans.
The Minister must have regard to bioregional plans in making any decision under the EPBC Act to
which the plans are relevant. Marine bioregional plans have been developed for four of Australia's
marine regions.

Marine park management plans: section 366 of the EPBC Act requires that Commonwealth
reserves must have management plans in place as soon as practicable after being proclaimed.
Section 367 requires that management plans must provide for the protection and conservation of the
reserves.

Marine species: a species included in the list referred to at section 248 of the EPBC Act.

Permit: a permit required under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Exemptions are provided under section 255
(for marine species) and section 231 (for cetaceans) of the EPBC Act.

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

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Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is both a substantial part of a World Heritage area and a separate
matter of national environmental significance. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority manages
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in accordance with Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.

The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that has, will have or is likely to have a
significant impact on the environment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, unless the action is
approved or otherwise exempt from the need for approval.

Element Description

Environmental The environment, biodiversity and heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef
Outcome Marine Park are protected and conserved for current and future generations.

Decisions (or other things) that relate to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park:
1) Are taken in accordance with the zoning plan for the relevant zone made
National Standard under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.
2) Should promote an efficient and cooperative approach to decision-making
with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

World Heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef

Australian Heritage Database

EPBC Act Referral Guidelines for the Outstanding Universal Value of the Great
Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

The Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the Great Barrier
Reef

Fisheries

Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries

Commonwealth fisheries harvest strategy policy and guidelines

Further Information
Commonwealth Bycatch strategy

Reef Management

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003

Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement 2015

Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (2018, as updated from time to time)

Strategic Assessment for the Great Barrier Reef 2014

Additional policies, plans and position statements are available at

www.environment.gov.au and www.gbrmpa.gov.au.

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: means the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park established under the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: means the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
established by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.

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Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

Zoning plan: a plan prepared under Division 2 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, and
referred to under section 43 of the EPBC Act.

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Protection of the Environment from Nuclear Actions
The EPBC Act protects the whole of the environment from impacts of nuclear actions.

The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking a nuclear action that has, will have or is likely to have a
significant impact on the environment, unless the action is approved or otherwise exempt from the
need for approval.

Element Description

Environmental The community and the environment are protected from the harmful effects of
Outcome radiation and radioactive material that may result from nuclear actions.

Decisions (or other things) that relate to nuclear actions:

1) Must not approve or enable the taking of an action (or a class of actions) that
involves the construction or operation of, any of the following nuclear
installations:
a) a nuclear fuel fabrication plant
b) a nuclear power plant

National Standard c) an enrichment plant, or

d) a reprocessing facility.
2) The Commonwealth must not have the effect of giving preference (within the
meaning of section 99 of the Constitution) to one State or part of a State over
another State or part of a State, in relation to the taking of a nuclear action:
a) by a person for the purposes of trade or commerce between Australia
and another country or between 2 States, or
b) by a constitutional corporation.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) also
Further Information
regulates radiation and nuclear activities.

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
Nuclear actions: defined at section 22 of the EPBC Act.

Nuclear installations: defined at section 22 of the EPBC Act.

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

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Protection of Water Resources from Coal Seam Gas Development and Large
Coal Mining Development
The EPBC Act prohibits a person from taking an action that involves coal seam gas development or
large coal mining development and has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on a water
resource, unless the action is approved or otherwise exempt from the need for approval.

The Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining
Development (IESC) is established under section 505C of the EPBC Act to provide independent
scientific advice to the Australian Government Environment Minister and relevant state ministers on
the potential water-related impacts of proposed coal seam gas or large coal mining developments.

Element Description

Protection of a water resource, which is or is likely to be significantly impacted by

Environmental
coal seam gas or large coal mining developments, including any impacts of
Outcome
associated salt production and/or salinity.

Decisions (or other things) that relate to water resources:

National Standard 1) Obtain and take into account the independent expert scientific advice of the
Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal
Mining Development.

IESC Information Guidelines, Explanatory Notes and Fact Sheets, available at:
Further Information
www.iesc.environment.gov.au.

This Standard should be applied in conjunction with the Standard for all MNES and other relevant
matter-specific Standards.

Definitions
Coal seam gas or large coal mining developments: defined at section 528 of the EPBC Act.

Things: means the exercise of functions and powers relating to the EPBC Act or an accredited
process (for example, entry into bilateral agreements (section 45) or the entry into a strategic
assessment agreement (section 146)).

Water resource(s): has the same meaning as in the Water Act 2007:

a) surface water or ground water; or

b) a watercourse, lake, wetland or aquifer (whether or not it currently has water in it);
and includes all aspects of the water resource (including water, organisms and other
components and ecosystems that contribute to the physical state and environmental value of
the water resource).

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