The Australian Environment Minister appointed Professor Graeme Samuel AC to conduct this Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) 1999 in October 2019. This is the final report of the review.

This interim report suggests that the EPBC Act does not position the Commonwealth to protect the environment and Australia’s iconic places in the national interest. The operation of the Act is dated and inefficient, and it is not fit to manage current or future environmental challenges, particularly in light of climate change.

The EPBC Act requires that an independent review be undertaken at least once every ten years. The review must examine the operation of the Act and the extent to which its objects have been achieved. The last review was completed in 2009. This discussion paper is the first step in consultation for the next review.

This review was recommended by the Hayne Royal Commission. The damaging revelations revealed during the Commission’s inquiry have had a profound impact on the community. Trust in the financial system and its regulators has diminished. Community expectations about the role of regulators have been heightened.

The purpose of this review was to assess the impact of the Grocery Code in improving the commercial relations between grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers. The Grocery Code established minimum standards of conduct to address a range of undesirable behaviours from retailers and wholesalers during their dealings with suppliers.