Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (ACT)

Case

Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025

A2025-28

Contents

Page

Part 1      Preliminary

1            Name of Act  2

2            Commencement  2

3            Legislation amended  2

Part 2Biosecurity Act 2023

4            New section 232A  3

5            New part 16B  4

6            Reviewable decisionsSchedule 1, item 13, column 3  5

Part 3Biosecurity (National Livestock Identification System) Regulation 2025

7           Incorporating, applying or adopting documentsSection 92  6

8            Dictionary, definition of NLIS Cattle Standards, note 1  6

9            Dictionary, definition of NLIS Sheep and Goat Standards, note 1           6

Part 4Biosecurity Regulation 2025

10          Definitions—div 2.2Section 7 (2), definition of AS 5008, note 1  7

11          Section 7 (2), definition of National Standard for Recycling Used Cooking Oil for Animal Feed, note 1  7

12          Offence—Newcastle disease vaccination`Section 18 (3), definition of Newcastle disease vaccination program, note 1 7

13          Condition—compliance with code of practiceSection 38 (2), definition of Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice, note 1  7

14          Dealing with certain vaccines is regulated dealing—Act, s 88Section 42 (3), definition of agvet code, note 1  8

15          MiscellaneousPart 9  8

Part 5Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Act 1993

16          State of the environment reportSection 19 (3)  9

Part 6Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Act 2012

17          Codes of practiceSection 25 (1) and (2), notes  10

18          Section 25 (3) and notes  10

Part 7Fisheries Act 2000

19          Meaning of suitability information about a person—pt 4Section 24, definition of suitability information, paragraph (a) (vii), example 3   11

20          Return of things seizedSection 72H (2) (b)  11

Part 8Lakes Act 1976

21          ApplicationSection 5  12

22          Section 5, note 1  12

23          Use of power boats—other peopleSection 29 (7)  12

24          Restrictions—power boatsSection 30 (3), note  13

25          Agreements for use of lake areasSection 35 (4)  13

26          Commercial activities in lake areaSection 36 (2), note  13

27          Meaning of appropriate lifejacket—div 5.2Section 41, definition of appropriate lifejacket, paragraph (a) (ii) and note 14

28          New section 41 (2)  14

29          Dictionary, note 2  14

30          Dictionary, definition of Commonwealth Minister  14

31          Dictionary, definition of lake, paragraph (b), note  15

32          Dictionary, definition of RMS  15

Part 9National Environment Protection Council Act 1994

33          Sections 8 (3) and 10 (3)  16

34          Council may make national environment protection measuresSection 13 (2) (b)  16

35          Sections 13 to 17 etc  16

36          Section 58 heading  17

37          Section 58  17

38          Review of operation of ActSection 63 (1)  17

39          Schedule 1 heading, reference  17

Part 10Nature Conservation Act 2014

40          Chapter 6 exceptionsNew section 153 (2) (b) (iia) and (iib)  18

41          Direction to leave reserveSection 325 (1) and note  18

Part 11Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT) Act 2015

42          Application of Commonwealth administrative laws to applied provisionsSection 17 (5)  19

43          Section 17 (5)  19

44          Dictionary, definition of Commonwealth administrative laws, paragraph (a) 19

Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025

A2025-28

An Act to amend legislation about the environment

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

Part 1Preliminary

  1. Name of Act

    This Act is the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025.

  2. Commencement

    This Act commences on the 14th day after its notification day.

    NoteThe naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).

  3. Legislation amended

    This Act amends the legislation mentioned in parts 2 to 11.

Part 2Biosecurity Act 2023

  1. New section 232A

    insert

232AApplying, adopting or incorporating documents in regulations and instruments

(1)A regulation or instrument may apply, adopt or incorporate (with or without change or modification)—

(a)a law, an Australian Standard or an Australian/New Zealand Standard as in force from time to time; or

(b)another instrument as in force from time to time.

(2)The Legislation Act, section 47 (5) and (6) do not apply to a document applied, adopted or incorporated under subsection (1).

(3)The director‑general must ensure that an instrument applied, adopted or incorporated under subsection (1) (b) is—

(a)available for inspection by anyone without charge during ordinary business hours at an ACT government office; or

(b)accessible on an ACT government website, or by a link on an ACT government website.

(4)An instrument applied, adopted or incorporated under subsection (1) (b) is not enforceable by or against the Territory or anyone else unless it is made accessible in accordance with subsection (3).

  1. New part 16B

    insert

Part 16BTransitional—Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025

234FMeaning of commencement day—pt 16B

In this part:

commencement day means the day the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2025, section 4 commences.

234GApplied, adopted or incorporated instruments

(1)This section applies to a law, an Australian Standard or another instrument that, before the commencement day, was applied, adopted or incorporated (an applied instrument) by—

(a)the Biosecurity (National Livestock Identification System) Regulation 2025; or

(b)the Biosecurity Regulation 2025; or

(c)a statutory instrument made under the Biosecurity (National Livestock Identification System) Regulation 2025; or

(d)a statutory instrument made under the Biosecurity Regulation 2025.

(2)The applied instrument is taken to have been applied, adopted or incorporated under section 232A.

234HExpiry—pt 16B

This part expires 1 year after the commencement day.

NoteA transitional provision is repealed on its expiry but continues to have effect after its repeal (see Legislation Act, s 88).

  1. Reviewable decisions
    Schedule 1, item 13, column 3

    omit

    order

    substitute

    notice

Part 3Biosecurity (National Livestock Identification System) Regulation 2025

  1. Incorporating, applying or adopting documents
    Section 92

    omit

  2. Dictionary, definition of NLIS Cattle Standards, note 1

    substitute

    Note 1The NLIS Cattle Standards do not need to be notified under the Legislation Act because s 47 (6) does not apply to them (see Act, s 232A). However, they must be made available to the public as required by the Act, s 232A (3).

  3. Dictionary, definition of NLIS Sheep and Goat Standards, note 1

    substitute

    Note 1The NLIS Sheep and Goat Standards do not need to be notified under the Legislation Act because s 47 (6) does not apply to them (see Act, s 232A). However, they must be made available to the public as required by the Act, s 232A (3).

Part 4Biosecurity Regulation 2025

  1. Definitions—div 2.2
    Section 7 (2), definition of AS 5008, note 1

    substitute

    Note 1AS 5008 does not need to be notified under the Legislation Act because s 47 (6) does not apply to it (see Act, s 232A).

  2. Section 7 (2), definition of National Standard for Recycling Used Cooking Oil for Animal Feed, note 1

    substitute

    Note 1The National Standard for Recycling Used Cooking Oil for Animal Feed does not need to be notified under the Legislation Act because s 47 (6) does not apply to it (see Act, s 232A). However, it must be made available to the public as required by the Act, s 232A (3).

  3. Offence—Newcastle disease vaccination`
    Section 18 (3), definition of Newcastle disease vaccination program, note 1

    substitute

    Note 1The National Newcastle Disease Management Plan does not need to be notified under the Legislation Act because s 47 (6) does not apply to it (see Act, s 232A). However, it must be made available to the public as required by the Act, s 232A (3).

  4. Condition—compliance with code of practice
    Section 38 (2), definition of Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice, note 1

    substitute

    Note 1The Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice does not need to be notified under the Legislation Act because s 47 (6) does not apply to it (see Act, s 232A). However, it must be made available to the public as required by the Act, s 232A (3).

  5. Dealing with certain vaccines is regulated dealing—Act, s 88
    Section 42 (3), definition of agvet code, note 1

    substitute

    Note 1The Agvet Code of the ACT does not need to be notified under the Legislation Act because s 47 (6) does not apply to it (see Act, s 232A).

  6. Miscellaneous
    Part 9

    omit

Part 5Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Act 1993

  1. State of the environment report
    Section 19 (3)

    omit

    within 6 months after the day of receiving a state of the environment report

    substitute

    within 6 months after the day the Minister presents a state of the environment report to the Legislative Assembly under section 22

Part 6Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Act 2012

  1. Codes of practice
    Section 25 (1) and (2), notes

    omit

  2. Section 25 (3) and notes

    substitute

    (3)An approved code of practice may apply, adopt or incorporate (with or without change or modification)—

    (a)a law, an Australian Standard or an Australian/New Zealand Standard as in force from time to time; or

    (b)another instrument as in force from time to time.

    (4)The Legislation Act, section 47 (5) and (6) do not apply to an instrument applied, adopted or incorporated under subsection (3).

    (5)The administrator must ensure that an instrument applied, adopted or incorporated under subsection (3) (b) is—

    (a)available for inspection by anyone without charge during ordinary business hours at an ACT government office; or

    (b)accessible on an ACT government website, or by a link on an ACT government website.

    (6)An instrument applied, adopted or incorporated under subsection (3) (b) is not enforceable by or against the Territory or anyone else unless it is made accessible in accordance with subsection (5).

Part 7Fisheries Act 2000

  1. Meaning of suitability information about a person—pt 4
    Section 24, definition of suitability information, paragraph (a) (vii), example 3

    substitute

    3     Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW)

  2. Return of things seized
    Section 72H (2) (b)

    omit

    waste manager

    substitute

    director-general

Part 8Lakes Act 1976

  1. Application
    Section 5

    omit

    Territory land

    substitute

    territory land

  2. Section 5, note 1

    omit

    Lakes Ordinance 1976 (Cwlth)

    substitute

    Australian Capital Territory National Land (Lakes) Ordinance 2022 (Cwlth)

  3. Use of power boats—other people
    Section 29 (7)

    omit

    Lakes Ordinance 1976 (Cwlth), section 26

    substitute

    Australian Capital Territory National Land (Lakes) Ordinance 2022 (Cwlth), section 27

  4. Restrictions—power boats
    Section 30 (3), note

    omit

    Lakes Ordinance 1976 (Cwlth), s 26

    substitute

    Australian Capital Territory National Land (Lakes) Ordinance 2022 (Cwlth), s 27

  5. Agreements for use of lake areas
    Section 35 (4)

    omit

    Lakes Ordinance 1976 (Cwlth), section 33

    substitute

    Australian Capital Territory National Land (Lakes) Ordinance 2022 (Cwlth), section 34

  6. Commercial activities in lake area
    Section 36 (2), note

    omit

    Lakes Ordinance 1976 (Cwlth), s 33

    substitute

    Australian Capital Territory National Land (Lakes) Ordinance 2022 (Cwlth), s 35

  7. Meaning of appropriate lifejacket—div 5.2
    Section 41, definition of appropriate lifejacket, paragraph (a) (ii) and note

    omit

    RMS

    substitute

    TfNSW

  8. New section 41 (2)

    insert

    (2)In this section:

    TfNSW—see the Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW), section 3.

  9. Dictionary, note 2

    omit

    ·     Territory land

    substitute

    ·     territory land

  10. Dictionary, definition of Commonwealth Minister

    omit

    Lakes Ordinance 1976 (Cwlth)

    substitute

    Australian Capital Territory National Land (Lakes) Ordinance 2022 (Cwlth)

  11. Dictionary, definition of lake, paragraph (b), note

    omit

    Lakes Ordinance 1976 (Cwlth)

    substitute

    Australian Capital Territory National Land (Lakes) Ordinance 2022 (Cwlth)

  12. Dictionary, definition of RMS

    omit

Part 9National Environment Protection Council Act 1994

  1. Sections 8 (3) and 10 (3)

    omit

    shall

    substitute

    must

  2. Council may make national environment protection measures
    Section 13 (2) (b)

    omit

    Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (Cwlth)

    substitute

    Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (Cwlth)

  3. Sections 13 to 17 etc

    omit

    shall

    substitute

    must

    in

    ·     sections 13 to 17

    ·     section 19

    ·     sections 22 to 24

    ·     section 27

    ·     sections 36 and 37

    ·     section 40

    ·     section 56

  4. Section 58 heading

    substitute

  5. Special provisions relating to reports etc prepared under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

  6. Section 58

    omit

    Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cwlth), section 9 shall

    substitute

    Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cwlth), section 46 must

  7. Review of operation of Act
    Section 63 (1)

    omit

    shall

    substitute

    must

  8. Schedule 1 heading, reference

    substitute

    (see dict, def agreement)

Part 10Nature Conservation Act 2014

  1. Chapter 6 exceptions
    New section 153 (2) (b) (iia) and (iib)

    insert

    (iia)an emergency declaration under the Biosecurity Act 2023, section 38 (1) (Emergency declarations); or

    (iib)a control declaration under the Biosecurity Act 2023, section 51 (1) (Control declarations); or

  2. Direction to leave reserve
    Section 325 (1) and note

    substitute

    (1)This section applies if—

    (a)a person is in a reserve; and

    (b)a conservation officer believes on reasonable grounds that the person—

    (i)has acted in an offensive way; or

    (ii)has acted in a way that creates a public nuisance; or

    (iii)has committed, is committing or is about to commit an offence against this Act.

Part 11Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (ACT) Act 2015

  1. Application of Commonwealth administrative laws to applied provisions
    Section 17 (5)

    omit

    Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cwlth)

    substitute

    Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (Cwlth)

  2. Section 17 (5)

    omit

    part 4A (Appeals and references of questions of law to the Federal Court of Australia)

    substitute

    part 7 (Appeals and references of questions of law to Federal Court)

  3. Dictionary, definition of Commonwealth administrative laws, paragraph (a)

    substitute

    (a)the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (other than part 7);

Endnotes

  1. Presentation speech

    Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 7 May 2025.

  2. Notification

    Notified under the Legislation Act on 12 November 2025.

  3. Republications of amended laws

    For the latest republication of amended laws, see certify that the above is a true copy of the Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 22 October 2025.

    Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

    © Australian Capital Territory 2025

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