Question Time AU

Bill Debate · Second Reading

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Bill 2025; Second Reading

House of Representatives · Wednesday 27 August 2025

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The debate concerned a technical amendment to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The legislation aimed to ensure that boards of management for Commonwealth reserves could continue making decisions after a management plan expired, provided those decisions aligned with the expired plan. This measure sought to maintain traditional owner involvement in land management during the transition to new plans. The bill was introduced ahead of broader environmental reforms to preserve board functionality. The debate was adjourned without a final vote recorded in the transcript.

Outcome

The debate was adjourned.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Josh Wilson (Fremantle) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

Wilson moved that the bill be read a second time, highlighting the long-standing role of First Nations people in caring for country. Wilson noted that boards of management for reserves such as Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta, and Booderee currently lose decision-making powers when management plans expire. Wilson argued that the bill would allow these boards to continue operating under the terms of the expired plan until a new one is adopted. Wilson stated this change would maintain traditional owner representation and align with recommendations from the independent review of the EPBC Act.