Impact of the Australian Government’s 2025 Environment Protection Reforms on Queensland
The environment protection reforms passed by Federal Parliament in December 2025 significantly alter the operation of the EPBC Act, continuous-use requirements, treatment of Matters of National Environmental Significance, and the parameters governing assessment and decision-making (i.e., establishment of National Environmental Standards (Standards), National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), and other statutory test requirements and functions). The […]
Productivity Commission Inquiry into National Water Reform 2026: Preliminary Assessment – Interim Update 2
The “largely achieved” assessment for community partnerships may overstate the consistency of performance across Governments and agencies. The existence of a consultation process is not in itself sufficient. Effective community partnership depends on authentic leadership, adequate timeframes, accessible information, and a clear line of sight between stakeholder input and the final decision. Performance should be […]
Exposure Draft of Proposed Amendments to the SASB Standards and the IFRS S2 Industry-Based Guidance
From the outset we wish to make clear that the NFF are extremely disappointed that there has not been close and direct engagement on the development of any metrics with the agricultural sector. NFF has been delivering a world leading sustainability framework, the Australian Agriculture Sustainability Framework (AASF), supported by Commonwealth grants. The AASF has […]
Productivity Commission Inquiry into National Water Reform 2026: Water Services Reform Directions – Interim Update 1
It is NFF’s view that Governments have a role to play in supporting water authorities through sustained capital investment to ensure access to water services remains affordable for water users. It would be unacceptable for the costs of addressing ageing infrastructure, asset renewal, and historic underinvestment to be shifted entirely onto end-users, particularly where communities […]
NFF welcomes investment in national traceability coordination
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed the Australian Government’s investment in strengthening Australia’s agricultural traceability systems through a new industry-led national traceability governance mechanism. The Australian Government has provided the NFF funding to establish the successor to the Australian Agricultural Traceability Governance Group (AATGG), supporting nationally coordinated implementation of the National Agricultural Traceability Strategy. […]
National Environmental Standard for Community Engagement
Should the Commonwealth proceed with finalising this Standard through the current process, significant amendments are required to make it workable and fit-for-purpose for agriculture. In summary: The NFF’s full submission can be found here.
National Environmental Standard for Data and Information
Broadly, we are comfortable with the content of the Standard, including the single headline Objective that decisions made under the EPBC Act “are based on appropriate data and information and to extend the availability of credible data and information assets for use in such decisions”. However, we continue to hold strong concerns regarding the Principles-led […]
National Biosecurity Reforms
The NFF strongly supports the National Biosecurity Strategy (NBS) as a framework to align priorities and actions to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system. The proposed reform agenda presents a range of initiatives that, if delivered fully and effectively, may result in meaningful improvements to Australia’s biosecurity system. However, additional reforms should also be considered. The NFF’s […]
Nature Repair (Protect and Conserve) Methodology Determination
The NFF strongly supports the Government’s vision for market-driven solutions to enhance biodiversity while recognising the need to ensure practical implementation, regulatory clarity, and financial sustainability for agricultural participants. The NFF reiterates our position that the Nature Repair Market must be accessible and developed in a manner that maximises participation for landholders across the agriculture […]
Farmers are not the Greens’ bargaining chip
Opinion editorial by Hamish McIntyre, NFF President On 1 July, the new National Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Information Australia formally commence. This is on top of laws already in force since 1 December, after Environment Minister Murray Watt struck a deal with the Greens to push EPBC Act changes through Parliament. A separate deal […]