This consultation is closed.
Overview
National Environmental Standards (‘Standards’) are a key component of reforming our national environment laws.
Following the passage of the Environment Protection Reform Act 2025 on 28 November 2025, Australia’s national environmental legislation now includes a framework to allow the Minister to make, vary, revoke and apply Standards. Standards are being made as legislative instruments and will be enacted by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations and supported by guidance material.
A draft MNES Standard was published for consultation from 5 November 2025 to 30 January 2026.
Statutory consultation on the exposure draft of the National Environmental Standard for Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES Standard) is now open for public comment.
The exposure draft of the MNES Standard has been developed based on feedback received from the public and stakeholders during previous consultations.
Consultation is open until 11:59pm AEST on Friday, 29 May 2026.
Feedback received during the consultation period will be considered when finalising the Standard.
Have your say
You can now provide feedback on the exposure draft of the National Environmental Standard for Matters of National Environmental Significance.
During this consultation, we are requesting feedback solely on the exposure draft of the MNES Standard. This consultation is not considering feedback regarding other national environmental reform matters.
Consultations on other reform matters, including the draft Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Regulations and other National Environmental Standards will be held separately.
To have your say:
read the exposure draft of the National Environmental Standard for Matters of National Environmental Significance
read the supporting Policy Position Paper
take the survey or upload a submission.
Provide your feedback by 11:59pm AEST on Friday, 29 May 2026.
Please note: late submissions will not be accepted.
Previous consultation
We published the draft MNES Standard and policy position paper for early feedback from 5 November 2025 to 30 January 2026.
We released these documents early to align with the Environment Protection Reform Bills’ introduction to Parliament.
We received over 430 submissions on the draft MNES Standard and policy position paper. Both documents have been updated to incorporate feedback, where applicable, and to ensure they align with the new legislation.
