Submission on the National Environmental Standards for Community Engagement and Data and Information

The National Environmental Standard (Community Engagement) 2026 and the National Environmental Standard (Data and Information) 2026 are new federal standards under the EPBC Act that set out how proponents must engage with communities during environmental assessment processes, and how they must collect, manage and share the data and information used in those assessments. 

In our submission to DCCEEW, we recommend key changes to avoid duplicating existing state planning requirements, remove subjective terminology and clarify responsibilities so proponents are only held to account for matters within their control.