Nexa Advisory appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and associated legislation.
The Bill takes meaningful steps forward by introducing a streamlined assessment pathway that appears aimed at fast-tracking renewable generation and storage projects, and by giving the Minister and NEPA CEO new powers to issue rulings on how the law applies.
However, in its current form, further work is needed to realise the government’s intent. Namely, further detail is needed around eligibility for and applicability to renewable project proponents under this pathway.
Without targeted action to address ongoing delays in renewable energy approvals, Australia risks failing to meet its legislated climate and energy goals. We therefore recommend that the Government:
- Leverage the Bill’s strengthened tools to streamline federal and state assessment processes, by using bioregional plans, strategic assessments, and revised bilateral agreements to align Commonwealth obligations with state schemes (such as New South Wales’ REZ biodiversity offset scheme).
- Use the new National Environmental Standard or similar guidance to provide clear expectations for renewable energy projects. This could also be achieved through accreditation of state instruments such as the Victorian Handbook for the development of renewable energy in Victoria – which provides risk-proportionate evidentiary requirements for these projects.
- Progress complementary energy market and planning reforms in parallel with EPBC implementation, including improved transmission planning and delivery arrangements, storage-specific guidelines, and an orderly coal closure framework. We recognise that these matters largely sit outside the EPBC Act but consider that they are critical to ensuring that environmental reform directly supports Australia’s clean energy transition.
Read our submission here: Nexa Advisory submission – Environmental Protection Reform Bill