The Environmental Management and Pollution Control Amendment Bill 2022 passed the Tasmanian Parliament yesterday, providing for increased transparency, improved consistency and certainty for industry and the community while maintaining a strong and comprehensive environmental regulation framework.
Last year, the Tasmanian Liberal Government announced the structural and organisational separation of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) from the Department of Primary Industries Parks Water and Environment, strengthening the independence of the EPA.
This Bill formalises these changes and clarifies the independent role of the EPA.
The Bill includes changes to the powers for the Director to make monitoring information available to the public, and outlines the process and powers for making Environmental Standards and Technical Standards.
These changes include powers to ensure the Ministerial Statement of Expectation aligns with the objectives outlined in the Act, and the functions and powers of the EPA Board.
I would like to thank all those people who have contributed to the development of the Bill and made submissions.
