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Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions)

Current status

This bill became law on Oct 30th, 2025.

Policy area

Climate, energy & environment

What does this bill do?

The Act lets boards of management for jointly managed Commonwealth reserves keep making reserve-management decisions after a management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years. expires, as long as no replacement plan is yet in force and the decisions are consistent with the most recent plan.

Why was it introduced?

The government introduced the bill to prevent Traditional Owner-majority boards for jointly managed Commonwealth reserves from losing decision-making power when a 10-year management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years. expires before a new plan is ready. The explanatory material and debate describe it as a narrow, time-critical fix to maintain continuity while broader EPBC and cultural heritage reforms are pursued separately.

Broader context

The Act sits in the wider debate about First Nations control of country, national environmental law reform and cultural heritage protection after Juukan GorgeA Western Australian cultural heritage site destroyed by Rio Tinto in 2020. Debate on this bill used it as a reference point for wider cultural heritage reform.. Speakers from across the chamber broadly supported the technical continuity fix, while Greens, crossbench and Coalition speakers used the debate to press for broader reform.

Key criticism

There was broad support for the bill itself as a narrow continuity fix. The main criticisms were that the government had not yet delivered wider cultural heritage and EPBC reforms, that boards might be left relying on expired management plans, and that broader environmental approval settings still created uncertainty.

Who supported it?

The government introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.

Introduced in House 27 Aug 2025
Passed House 03 Sept 2025
Passed Senate 28 Oct 2025
Became law 30 Oct 2025

Did it become law?

Yes

Became law 30 Oct 2025

Final passage

Passed without a counted vote

1 recorded amendment or procedural vote was found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.

Passage speed

64 days

From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. The Act lets boards of management for jointly managed Commonwealth reserves keep making reserve-management decisions after a management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years. expires, as long as no replacement plan is yet in force and the decisions are consistent with the most recent plan.

  2. The change applies to jointly managed Commonwealth reserves on Aboriginal land, including Kakadu National Park, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Booderee National Park, where boards have majority Indigenous representation nominated by Traditional OwnersFirst Nations people with traditional connection to the land or sea country being managed..

  3. The Act keeps the same guardrail that board decisions must not be contrary to the relevant management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years., and extends the Director of National ParksThe Commonwealth office-holder responsible for managing Commonwealth national parks and reserves and giving effect to lawful board decisions. disagreement process to decisions made under the most recent expired plan.

  4. The Act adds a note that boards must prepare management plans with the Director of National ParksThe Commonwealth office-holder responsible for managing Commonwealth national parks and reserves and giving effect to lawful board decisions. to try to ensure a plan is in operation as soon as practicable and remains in operation after it first takes effect.

  5. The whole Act commenced on 31 October 2025, the day after Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by parliament into an Act..

Show source excerpts
  1. if a management plan for the reserve has ceased to be in operation, and no further management plan for the reserve has yet come into operation—to make decisions relating to the management of the reserve that are consistent with the most recent management plan that was in operation for the reserve
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Act 2025 final Act text
  2. Australia’s jointly managed Commonwealth Reserves – Kakadu National Park, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, and Booderee National Park – are located on Aboriginal land. ... A majority of Board members must be Indigenous people nominated by Traditional Owners
    Explanatory memorandum
  3. Omit all the words after “reserve is”, substitute: contrary to: (i) a management plan in operation for the reserve; or (ii) if a management plan for the reserve has ceased to be in operation ... the most recent management plan that was in operation for the reserve.
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Act 2025 final Act text
  4. A Board must prepare management plans for a reserve in conjunction with the Director, to try to ensure that a plan for the reserve is in operation as soon as practicable after the Board is established, and at all times after a plan first takes effect after the Board’s establishment.
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Act 2025 final Act text
  5. The whole of this Act The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Act 2025 final Act text

Context

Broader context for this bill

The Act sits in the wider debate about First Nations control of country, national environmental law reform and cultural heritage protection after Juukan GorgeA Western Australian cultural heritage site destroyed by Rio Tinto in 2020. Debate on this bill used it as a reference point for wider cultural heritage reform.. Speakers from across the chamber broadly supported the technical continuity fix, while Greens, crossbench and Coalition speakers used the debate to press for broader reform.

  1. 2020-05

    Juukan GorgeA Western Australian cultural heritage site destroyed by Rio Tinto in 2020. Debate on this bill used it as a reference point for wider cultural heritage reform. destruction drives reform calls

    The Greens amendment and debate cited Rio Tinto's destruction of 46,000-year-old Juukan GorgeA Western Australian cultural heritage site destroyed by Rio Tinto in 2020. Debate on this bill used it as a reference point for wider cultural heritage reform. caves as evidence that cultural heritage laws needed stronger national protection.

    Watson-Brown and Waters amendment sheets and speeches ↗
  2. 2025

    Management-plan expiry creates governance gap

    The explanatory memorandum says a board's active decision-making function stops when a reserve management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years. expires, leaving a gap if no replacement plan is yet in force.

    Explanatory memorandum ↗
  3. 27 Aug 2025

    Bill introduced in the House

    Josh Wilson introduced the bill as a minor technical EPBC ActThe main federal environment law amended by this Act. It sets rules for Commonwealth reserves, environmental approvals and related biodiversity protections. amendment to keep Traditional Owner voices in reserve management while broader reforms continued.

    Minister second reading speech ↗
  4. 23 Oct 2025

    Senate committee report noted

    The APH source bundle records referral to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, with a committee report dated 23 October 2025.

    APH bill page notes ↗
  5. 30 Oct 2025

    Act receives Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by parliament into an Act.

    The Act received Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by parliament into an Act. on 30 October 2025 and commenced the next day.

    Federal Register of Legislation metadata in seed ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 27 Aug 2025

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 27 Aug 2025

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Second reading debate 03 Sept 2025

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

House second reading agreed 03 Sept 2025

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

House third reading agreed 03 Sept 2025

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Introduced 04 Sept 2025

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 04 Sept 2025

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (23/10/2025) review 04 Sept 2025

The bill was referred to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (23/10/2025).

Referred to committee

APH bill page notes
Second reading debate 27 Oct 2025

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 28 Oct 2025

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Senate second reading agreed 28 Oct 2025

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Senate third reading agreed 28 Oct 2025

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Passed both houses 28 Oct 2025

Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.

Finally passed both Houses

AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by parliament into an Act. 30 Oct 2025

The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

There was broad support for the bill itself as a narrow continuity fix. The main criticisms were that the government had not yet delivered wider cultural heritage and EPBC reforms, that boards might be left relying on expired management plans, and that broader environmental approval settings still created uncertainty.

Supporters said the bill was practical and time-critical; critics generally targeted what the bill did not do, rather than opposing the core board-management fix.

Cultural heritage reform

Greens speakers and amendments argued the bill should be paired with stronger national cultural heritage laws, implementation of Juukan GorgeA Western Australian cultural heritage site destroyed by Rio Tinto in 2020. Debate on this bill used it as a reference point for wider cultural heritage reform. recommendations and free, prior and informed consentA principle that First Nations communities should be able to make informed decisions about actions affecting their lands, waters or heritage before those actions proceed. in EPBC decisions.

Raised by Elizabeth Watson-Brown and Larissa Waters Source ↗

Expired management plans

Larissa Waters noted submitter concern that decisions under an expired management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years. may not reflect the best current environmental science, climate science or Indigenous knowledge.

Raised by Larissa Waters and inquiry submitters she referred to Source ↗

Broader EPBC reform delays

Coalition and crossbench speakers supported the technical bill but said the government still needed to deliver broader EPBC reform, improve approval processes and resolve cultural heritage settings.

Raised by Angie Bell, Jonathon Duniam, Tim Wilson and Monique Ryan Source ↗

Further sources

aph.gov.au ↗ parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗ parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

How the bill itself passed

The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.

Passed

House passed the bill

House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.

03 Sept 2025

Passed on the voices

In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.

Passed

Senate passed the bill

Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.

28 Oct 2025

Passed on the voices

In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.

Amendments at a glance

Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.

Senate

Defeated

Call for First Nations heritage reform

Aye 13 No 29

Moved by Larissa Waters (Australian Greens). Defeated 13 to 29. Support came from Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, and UAP.

28 Oct 2025

Defeated 13-29; the Senate did not add the Greens statement before agreeing to the bill in principle.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 21
Greens 10 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 4
One Nation 0 / 3
Independent 2 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
UAP 0 / 1

These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

Sponsor speech Supports

Josh Wilson

Australian Labor Party • MP 27 Aug 2025

Josh Wilson said the bill would keep Traditional Owner-majority boards making decisions for jointly managed Commonwealth reserves after a management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years. expires, while broader EPBC reforms continue.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead non-major voice Mixed

Monique Ryan

Independent • MP 03 Sept 2025

Monique Ryan supported the bill but argued wider EPBC reform should also protect cultural heritage, biodiversity, air quality and climate-exposed ecosystems.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead voice Supports

Tim Ayres

Australian Labor Party • Senator 04 Sept 2025

Tim Ayres introduced the bill in the Senate with the incorporated second-reading speech, presenting it as a continuity measure for Traditional Owner-led reserve management.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead voice Mixed

Angie Bell

Liberal National Party • MP 03 Sept 2025

Angie Bell supported the technical fix but criticised the government for delays, saying the expiring Kakadu and Booderee plans exposed wider problems in environmental law reform.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Labor

7 speakers · 8 contributions · 7 support

  1. Tim Ayres ★ Tim Ayres introduced the bill in the Senate with the incorporated second-reading speech, presenting it as a continuity measure for Traditional Owner-led reserve management.
    “This is a sensible change that will maintain the Board's decision-making ability until a new management plan comes into effect.”

    Australian Labor Party • Senator • 04 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Tom French Tom French supported the bill as a small but important continuity measure that keeps Indigenous leadership in reserve management when plans expire.
    “This bill ensures that boards remain empowered even when plans expire. It preserves Indigenous leadership in jointly managed reserves. It keeps governance steady, respectful and consistent.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  3. Claire Clutterham Claire Clutterham supported the bill, arguing that First Nations land-management knowledge should remain central to protecting reserves and biodiversity.
    “Although a minor amendment on paper, this bill is significant in its acknowledgement and continued support of the unquantifiable value of First Nations knowledge of how to care for country.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  4. Trish Cook Trish Cook supported the bill as a practical way to close a governance gap and keep Traditional OwnersFirst Nations people with traditional connection to the land or sea country being managed. at the centre of caring for country.
    “This is a straightforward bill with enormous purpose. It is about closing a loophole, strengthening a partnership and empowering the people who have been the rightful custodians of this land for millennia.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  5. Richard Dowling Richard Dowling supported the bill as a practical safeguard for fire control, weed management, park governance and Traditional Owner participation.
    “The bill is both principled and practical. It keeps national parks well-governed, ensures Indigenous partners remain central to management and strengthens the link between cultural knowledge and environmental care.”

    Australian Labor Party • Senator • 28 Oct 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  6. Josh Wilson ★ 2 contributions Josh Wilson said the bill would keep Traditional Owner-majority boards making decisions for jointly managed Commonwealth reserves after a management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years. expires, while broader EPBC reforms continue.

    Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Josh Wilson on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

    Minister's second reading speech Australian Labor Party • MP • 27 Aug 2025

    Josh Wilson said the bill would keep Traditional Owner-majority boards making decisions for jointly managed Commonwealth reserves after a management planThe plan that sets out how a Commonwealth reserve is managed. Under the EPBC Act, these plans can expire after 10 years. expires, while broader EPBC reforms continue.

    “The bill will allow the board to continue making decisions after a management plan expires, provided those decisions are consistent with the expired management plan, just as they would have been consistent with the management plan while it was afoot.”
    Read this contribution in Hansard ↗

    Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Josh Wilson closed the House debate by supporting the bill and rejecting the Greens amendment, saying broader cultural heritage and environmental reforms were being handled separately.

    “This bill is a standalone and time critical to the EPBC Act. It's unconnected to broader reforms being progressed separately at this time.”
    Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
  7. Dorinda Cox Dorinda Cox supported the bill as a recognition that Traditional OwnersFirst Nations people with traditional connection to the land or sea country being managed. should keep leading the care and management of country.
    “The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Bill 2025 honours the principles that country is cared for by the people who it's always belonged to and that keeps traditional owners leading the way”

    Australian Labor Party • Senator • 28 Oct 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Coalition

4 speakers · 4 mixed

  1. Angie Bell ★ Angie Bell supported the technical fix but criticised the government for delays, saying the expiring Kakadu and Booderee plans exposed wider problems in environmental law reform.
    “It is very important to fix these loopholes in the EPBC board management bill, but it's even more important for the government to do its job and deliver on its environmental responsibilities.”

    Liberal National Party • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Tim Wilson Tim Wilson accepted the bill as an administrative fix while using the debate to call for a broader conversation about culture, land, opportunity and environmental governance.
    “This bill will no doubt go through this parliament, because there's an important administrative matter to address, but it is not the end of either the conversation on the substantive issues that are raised by it or the broader conversation on what we need to do as a country.”

    Liberal Party • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  3. Michael McCormack Michael McCormack supported practical environmental management but criticised Labor decisions he said harmed regional communities and investment.
    “You've got decisions being made by a government that, yes, does have a mandate. But they don't have a mandate to pull apart regional Australia.”

    National Party • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  4. Jonathon Duniam Jonathon Duniam supported the bill as sensible but criticised delays in broader EPBC and cultural heritage reforms and argued investment uncertainty remained unresolved.
    “We'll wait and see what happens with the full suite of legislation, but, in the meantime, these reforms are sensible and should be supported.”

    Liberal Party • Senator • 28 Oct 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Greens

2 speakers · 2 mixed

  1. Elizabeth Watson-Brown Elizabeth Watson-Brown moved a second-reading amendment calling for stronger First Nations cultural heritage protection and free, prior and informed consentA principle that First Nations communities should be able to make informed decisions about actions affecting their lands, waters or heritage before those actions proceed. in EPBC decisions.
    “Labor must deliver long-overdue cultural heritage reforms that support and empower traditional owners and communities to preserve their connection to their ancestors and to protect their rich, historic and vibrant culture from inappropriate developments.”

    Australian Greens • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Larissa Waters Larissa Waters supported the technical change but moved a second-reading amendment criticising the lack of progress on cultural heritage laws, Juukan GorgeA Western Australian cultural heritage site destroyed by Rio Tinto in 2020. Debate on this bill used it as a reference point for wider cultural heritage reform. recommendations and free, prior and informed consentA principle that First Nations communities should be able to make informed decisions about actions affecting their lands, waters or heritage before those actions proceed..
    “This bill is a welcome step to address a technical issue and to allow uninterrupted First Nations management of Commonwealth reserves, but, if this government is actually committed to managing land, sea and cultural heritage in partnership with First Nations people, it must implement all the recommendations of the Juukan Gorge inquiry report.”

    Australian Greens • Senator • 28 Oct 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Minor parties and independents

1 speaker · 1 mixed

  1. Monique Ryan ★ Monique Ryan supported the bill but argued wider EPBC reform should also protect cultural heritage, biodiversity, air quality and climate-exposed ecosystems.
    “The management plans for these reserves are about to expire, which is why we're addressing it with this amendment to the EPBC Act 1999.”

    Independent • MP • 03 Sept 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Record

Full record

Full chat