The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) allows bilateral agreements between the Australian Government and Tasmania. These let us accredit Tasmanian environmental assessment and approval processes.
Bilateral agreements allow each state or territory to assess proposed actions (projects or developments) on behalf of the Australian Government.
They remove the need for a separate assessment, reducing duplication. The Commonwealth Environment minister uses a state or territory's environmental assessment report to inform the final decision about whether to approve an action.
You will need to submit referrals to us and the Tasmanian regulator. If your project needs to be assessed under both Tasmanian and Australian Government law the State and Commonwealth regulators will seek to undertake the assessments under a single process.
Environment protection and pollution control
The Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority is responsible for primary environment protection and pollution control.
Read the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.
Major developments across multiple council areas
The Tasmanian Planning Commission is responsible for assessing major developments that have effects that extend beyond a single council area. They also assess major development proposals that have statewide effects.
Read more on the Tasmanian Planning Commission website.
Assessment agreement with Tasmania
Under the assessment bilateral agreement, the Commonwealth minister can use the Tasmanian process to inform an assessment of the impacts of any eligible action.
On 22 October 2014, the Tasmanian and Australian governments signed the Tasmanian Assessment Bilateral Agreement under section 45 of the EPBC Act.
Tasmanian Assessment Bilateral Agreement (PDF 905 KB)
Tasmanian Assessment Bilateral Agreement (DOCX 131 KB)
Public consultation
We published the draft assessment bilateral agreement for public comment from 18 July to 15 August 2014. The public consultation process received 3 submissions.
Following the public comment period, we finalised the agreement. For more information on the submissions and our response, read the Report on Public Comments on the Draft Tasmanian Assessment Bilateral Agreement.
Report on comments (PDF 87 KB)
Report on comments (DOCX 28 KB)
Find out more
Notice of intent to enter into agreement (PDF 16 KB)
Notice of intent to enter into agreement (DOCX 22 KB)
The Commonwealth minister's Statement of Reasons (PDF 1.1 MB)
The Commonwealth minister's Statement of Reasons (DOCX 51 KB)
Get in touch
If you have any questions about the bilateral agreement with Tasmania:
- Email: epbc.referrals@dcceew.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 423 135 between 9 am and 5 pm Canberra time.