Environmental Protection Authority

Public comment period closed 22 December 2006

Environment Protection Authorities (EPAs) were first established in the 1970s as the principal environmental regulators for pollution and waste. The majority of Australian jurisdictions now have EPAs, but no two Australian jurisdictions have the same model. At a high level, however, there are some common threads, namely: independence of regulatory decision-making from the executive government; and a multi-member board that plays either an advisory or auditing role or is an active (and independent) decision maker.

In the lead up to the 2006 State election the Labor Party committed to the establishment of an EPA in Tasmania.

The Government has now released a Position Paper to facilitate community input to the establishment of an EPA for Tasmania.

The Government's preferred model acknowledges the strengths of the current system and the Resource Management and Planning System in integrating planning and environmental decisions.

Position Paper (PDF: 1.43MB / 18 pages)

Two recent reviews of EMPCA resulted in a raft of recommendations for change to the Act and subordinate legislation, primarily to improve administrative procedures and links to the planning system. In October 2005 a consolidated report on these reviews of EMPCA was tabled in Parliament. Documents relating to the reviews provide detail on the functions and administration of EMPCA and provide a useful background to the Position Paper. Implementation of the report recommendations will complement the establishment of an EPA under the framework proposed in this paper. The report and supporting documents are available through the following links:

Statutory Review - Issues and Options Paper (PDF: 234KB / 31 pages)

Legislation Review Program Review - Preferred Options Paper (PDF: 338KB / 46 pages)

Consolidated Final Report on Stat & LRP Revus (PDF: 423KB / 76 pages)