Overview
The federal government has made the Environment Protection Reform (August Commencements) Transitional Rules 2026 under the Environment Protection Reform Act 2025. These rules came into force on 21 August 2026.
What these rules cover
The transitional rules manage the changeover from previous environmental protection arrangements to the new ones established under the Environment Protection Reform Act 2025. The rules address the following areas:
- Ministerial declarations
- Bilateral agreements
- Recovery plans
- Threat abatement plans
- Rulings
Administration
The rules are administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Key actions
- If a business operates under an existing environmental approval, bilateral agreement, or accredited management framework, the full legislative text is available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01106 to check whether the transitional provisions in this instrument affect current approvals.
- Alerts for further updates to this instrument can be set up on the Federal Register of Legislation at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01106 using the "Set up an alert" function on the page.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.