This is the third interim report that the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee has presented as part of its inquiry into Australia’s extinction crisis, which commenced in the 45th Parliament. This report considers recent evidence received by the Committee about the Australian government’s process to reform the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This process follows long-standing calls for reform, including from this committee in its first interim report of April 2019.

The report comprises the following chapters:

• Chapter 1 provides background information on the inquiry and the EPBC reform process.
• Chapter 2 discusses key issues raised in the submissions received in response to the call for submissions on 28 March 2024 and the public hearing on 17 April 2024, and provides the committee’s views and recommendations.