Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Health, Environment and Innovation Committee
5 members · Chair: Robert Molhoek
The Health, Environment and Innovation Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed. The bill amends the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to establish contemporary enabling provisions for the automatic issuing of low-risk environmental authorities through electronic systems, and retrospectively validates authorities previously issued automatically. The Queensland Conservation Council raised concerns about reduced transparency in environmental authority conditions.
Key findings (4)
- A key objective is ensuring low-risk environmental authorities can continue to be issued automatically through electronic systems in a way that satisfies administrative law principles
- The bill retrospectively establishes the validity of authorities previously issued automatically under the Environmental Protection Act
- The Queensland Conservation Council raised concerns that the changes reduce transparency by replacing explicit conditions in environmental authorities with deemed compliance provisions
- The department responded that the restructured provisions ensure consistency with other deemed condition provisions in the Act
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
▸11 members spoke8 support3 mixed
As Minister for the Environment, introduced and championed the bill as commonsense legislation that confirms automatic approval systems for low-risk environmental activities, removes red tape for Queenslanders, and allows the department to focus resources on high-risk matters.
“The Crisafulli government's intention with this bill is crystal clear: we want Queenslanders to enjoy our incredible natural environment and go about their business and their daily lives without government processes making those lives more difficult.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
As the introducing Minister, explained the bill establishes a framework for electronic systems to automatically issue low-risk environmental and wildlife permits, reducing red tape while maintaining regulatory oversight for higher-risk activities.
“This is smart and sensible legislation that will help to keep Queensland open for business.”— 2025-03-12View Hansard
As opposition lead speaker, announced Labor would not oppose or amend the bill as the amendments are 'operational, clarifying, sensible', but heavily criticised the government for lacking environmental vision, calling it an 'empty' bill and a missed opportunity for substantive reform.
“The Labor opposition will not be opposing or amending this bill because, quite frankly, there is hardly anything in it. There is nothing to amend or oppose.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
As chair of the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee, praised the bill as a necessary modernisation measure that streamlines day-to-day transactions like camping permits and four-wheel drive access, saving taxpayers money through simple efficiencies.
“This is about streamlining lots of day-to-day transactions like camping permits in national parks or four-wheel drive access into particular reserves.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
Supported the bill but criticised it as a waste of parliamentary resources, comparing it to 'a bill about nothing' like Seinfeld, and questioned why the government did not bundle these provisions into an omnibus bill given their lack of environmental agenda.
“You cannot really oppose nothing, can you? That is very difficult to do.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill as commonsense, forward-thinking legislation that reduces red tape for wildlife carers, educators and community conservation groups, while allowing the department to focus on high-risk conservation matters.
“This bill does not weaken environmental protections; rather, it strengthens them by ensuring our regulatory systems are fit for purpose in the modern era.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
Provided detailed technical explanation of the bill's amendments to both the Nature Conservation Act and Environmental Protection Act, addressing stakeholder concerns about automated decision-making while affirming the bill's safeguards. Commended the bill to the House.
“In summary, this bill will modernise the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the Environmental Protection Act to allow for electronic systems to continue to be used by DETSI for automatically issuing selective authorities.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill, emphasising the importance of nature conservation for Queensland's legacy to future generations and providing detailed technical explanation of the amendments to both the EPA and Nature Conservation Act.
“This bill gives practical expression to the sentiment earlier endorsed by the Queensland Conservation Council. This bill will assist in achieving better outcomes for Queensland's environment.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
Announced support for the bill as it strengthens environmental enforcement, but heavily criticised it as merely technical housekeeping that exposes the government's lack of environmental agenda and anti-environmental record.
“We support better enforcement. However, let's not think for a single second that that is a substitute for some kind of environmental agenda, because it is not.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill, highlighting its practical benefits for Far North Queensland tourism operators struggling with permit red tape, and the importance of streamlined systems for protecting the region's biodiversity from illegal wildlife trade.
“We are removing the ambiguity around permits, animal authorities and the illegal wildlife trade. We are identifying how biodiverse our region is and how we can better plan land use, conservation and investment.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
Supported the bill while urging careful implementation to ensure environmental protections remain robust. Highlighted the need for rigorous oversight of automated decision-making and raised the Queensland Conservation Council's concerns about potential reduced transparency.
“While the intent behind the bill is to enhance efficiency and clarity, it is imperative that we carefully consider its implementation to ensure environmental protections remain robust and public trust in our regulatory systems is upheld.”— 2025-08-28View Hansard
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill validates the use of electronic systems for automatically issuing routine environmental and wildlife permits. It confirms that permits automatically issued since 2017 are legally valid and ensures environmental enforcement tools remain effective after recent legislative changes.
Who it affects
Holders of wildlife permits and standard environmental authorities can be confident their automatically-issued permits are legally valid. Environmental regulators can continue using online systems for routine approvals.
Key changes
- Confirms electronic systems can legally be used to automatically issue low-risk wildlife and environmental permits
- Validates all permits automatically issued since 2017 under the Nature Conservation Act and Environmental Protection Act
- Ensures penalty infringement notices can be issued for non-compliance with environmental protection orders issued before 2024 legislative changes
- Mining lease environmental authority applications still require manual assessment and cannot be automatically approved