Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The objects of this Act are: (a) to provide for the protection of the environment, especially those aspects of the environment that are matters of national environmental significance; (b) to promote ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources; (c) to promote the conservation of biodiversity; (d) to promote a cooperative approach to the protection and management of the environment involving governments, the community, land-holders and indigenous peoples; (e) to assist in the cooperative implementation of Australia's international environmental responsibilities; (f) to recognize the role of indigenous people in the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity; and (g) to promote the use of indigenous peoples' knowledge of biodiversity with the involvement of, and in cooperation with, the owners of the knowledge. The Act implements obligations of Australia deriving from international agreements including the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992.
The text is divided into 8 Chapters; Preliminary (I); Protecting the environment (II); Bilateral agreements (III); Environmental impact assessment and approvals (IV); Conservation of biodiversity and heritage (V); Administration (VI); Miscellaneous (VII); Definitions (VIII). (The Chapters are divided into 23 Parts)
Article 3A contains Principles of ecologically sustainable development. Provisions of Chapter II provide a basis for the Minister to decide whether an action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on certain aspects of the environment. Actions in Commonwealth marine areas affecting the environment include fisheries. Also, an action does not need approval if it is taken in accordance with Regional Forest Agreements or a plan for managing the Great Barrier Reef. Chapter V makes provision for identifying and monitoring biodiversity and making bioregional plans, for a permit system, and makes provision with respect to listed threatened species and marine species, whaling, ecological communities, migratory species, protected areas, etc. The Act contains also provisions relative to the management of biosphere reserves, wetlands, etc.