National Environmental Protection Agency
NEPA
1 July 2026 – present
Independent Commonwealth environmental regulator responsible for compliance and enforcement under national environment law, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and for administering environmental assessments, approvals, permits and licences.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 July 2026 under the National Environmental Protection Agency Act 2025, part of the 2025 reforms to national environment law, taking over environmental regulation, compliance and enforcement functions from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
- EPBC Act compliance and enforcement
- Environmental assessments and approvals
- Environmental regulatory permits and licences
Legislation: National Environmental Protection Agency Act 2025
Main functions
- Environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement
- Administering environmental assessments and approvals under national environment law
- Administering environmental permits and licences
- Audits, investigations and prosecutions
- Guidance and education for regulated entities
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Accountable authority
- Chief Executive Officer – National Environmental Protection Agency Act 2025 section 9(2)(b)
- ABN
- 28 692 388 950
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance) (as National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA))
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.