Fines for Tampering With Seized Material or Breaking Environmental Codes
Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Topics
coal seam gas court procedures criminal penalties environment environmental audits environmental impact environmental impact statements environmental protection land use mining nature conservation pollution control recycling waste reduction water management +10 more
Introduced by: The Hon Andrew Powell MP (LNP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
People cannot tamper with things seized by environmental officers or enter restricted areas without approval; doing so carries a fine of up to 165 penalty units (2026: $28,495).
Summary court proceedings for environmental offences must start within 3 years of the crime; they must start within 2 years if an enforceable undertaking is broken or withdrawn.
It is now an offence to break a code for an environmentally relevant activity (ERA) if that activity is not done under an environmental authority.
The government no longer needs to notify the public about draft terms of reference.
Environmental authority applications can now be made if the Coordinator-General has evaluated an environmental impact statement (EIS) or report and set conditions for the activities.
Site-specific applications for coal seam gas activities now require the Coordinator-General to have evaluated an EIS or an impact assessment report (IAR).
The notification stage for an environmental authority application is not needed if a draft IAR has already been publicly notified.
Project proponents now have 20 business days to respond after they receive copies of all accepted submissions.