Australia Summary

In addition to Federal or Commonwealth legislation having national coverage, there are also an additional six State Governments and two Territory Governments that develop and administer their own legislation related to environmental protection and conservation.

Federal (or national) legislation is administered by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage For information about all environmental legislation administered by this Department, refer to key documents and/or their web sites.

Australia has also established a joint Federal – State policy body to facilitate information exchange and to help develop co-ordinated environmental policies and legislation. The Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) was formed following changes to natural resource and environment related Ministerial Councils agreed by the Council of Australian Government (COAG) in June 2001.

The EPHC was created by amalgamating the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC), the environment protection components of the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), and Heritage Ministers’ Meetings. The natural resource management components of ANZECC were transferred to the newly created Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC). As it is a statutory body the NEPC will continue to exist and will operate under the umbrella of the EPHC. The EPHC web site incorporates information previously provided on the NEPC web site including National Environment protection Measures (NEPMs). NEPMs potentially relevant to electrical and electronic products and wastes have already been made for Ambient Air Quality, National Pollutant Inventory, Movement of Controlled Waste, Used packaging Materials and Assessment of Site Contamination. For more information refer to useful links.

The EPHC process will have a direct impact on any policies or legislation that may be etablished to help eliminate or reduce waste arising from electrical and electronic products.

For information about environmental legislation administered by each of Australia’s six State Governments and two Territory Governments refer to useful links.


Authors:

Andrew Sweatman WSP Environmental More Info | Email

John Gertsakis WSP Environmental More Info | Email