Australia’s first environmental standards, designed to toughen protections and tighten offset rules, have drawn a mixed reaction from development and green groups.
The four standards, announced by Environment Minister Murray Watt and published on Friday, set national frameworks for development decisions involving major environmental issues, offsets and community engagement, and could accelerate approvals.
Their launch follows a 2020 review into Australia’s environment laws, led by former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Graeme Samuel, which found existing rules were ineffective.
National Environmental Standards were the centrepiece of Professor Samuel’s recommendations, in addition to greater enforcement, more involvement from states, and a focus on environmental recovery.
The new standards will require developers to avoid, mitigate and repair significant environmental damage before they can consider compensation or environmental offsets.
