I am pleased to speak in support of the Environmental Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. I will speak particularly about the elements of the bill that look at the Respect for Country reforms. My colleagues will address looking after Environmental Protection Authority [EPA] officers and the general EPA framework. I understand that the Minister will deal specifically with the concern raised by the member for Manly on behalf of the Opposition in due course. Through the Respect for Country reforms, the bill makes important updates to environment protection laws to recognise the importance of Aboriginal values and knowledge in caring for country.
The Respect for Country amendments do three things. First, they update the EPA's objectives to formally recognise Aboriginal peoples' connection to country. That is that the entire New South Wales landscape—including the lands, waters, and plant and animal species—has ongoing spiritual and cultural significance to Aboriginal peoples of New South Wales. Enshrining these values in the EPA's objectives will ensure that Aboriginal knowledges and perspectives are incorporated within the EPA's work as environmental stewards. This brings environment protection legislation administered by the EPA in line with similar frameworks for water and fisheries management.
Second, the amendments require Aboriginal perspectives and knowledges be included in the State of the Environment report, ensuring that we tell a complete and more inclusive story about the New South Wales environment. Aboriginal perspectives and knowledges have been included in the State of the Environment report since 2021. The 2024 report has a Voice of Country chapter, which strengthens the report and weaves together Aboriginal knowledges and sciences, shared histories and a truth-telling account. It culminates in an invitation to listen deeply and foster meaningful collaboration in environmental stewardship. Formalising this in the Protection of the Environment Operations Act will ensure this work continues, bring reporting requirements into line with legislation in other States, and strengthen our understanding of the New South Wales environment and how to manage it.
Third, the amendments ensure that environmental impacts on Aboriginal lands and communities are considered in sentencing decisions, explicitly requiring recognition by courts of the harm to Aboriginal cultures caused by an offence. Without express provisions, there is a risk that courts would not consider the impact of an offence on Aboriginal peoples and their cultural connections to the lands and waters of New South Wales in sentencing decisions. The proposed amendment allows more scope for these impacts to be redressed in the penalty imposed by the courts and promotes greater consistency in sentencing.
These changes were shaped in genuine partnership between the EPA and the independent Aboriginal Peoples Knowledge Group [APKG] established by the EPA. They were also informed by targeted consultation with Aboriginal communities and peak organisations across New South Wales. The APKG is made up of cultural knowledge holders from across the State. It provides critical advice on how the EPA engages with Aboriginal communities and integrates cultural knowledges and sciences into environmental protection. The APKG in collaboration with the EPA developed the Voice of Country chapter in our latest State of the Environment report. Through partnership between the EPA and the APKG, these three proposals were identified to build on existing actions to strengthen respect for country and harmonise EPA administered legislation with other New South Wales legislation.
Crucially, the development of these reforms was supported by on-country consultations across the State. Together, the EPA and the APKG engaged directly with Aboriginal communities and peak bodies, visiting saltwater, freshwater, desert and rainforest communities. These were real conversations in the places where people live, belong and care for country, allowing communities to speak about what matters to them. What the EPA and the APKG heard was clear and consistent support for the three reforms before us. This consultation also helped shape these reforms in ways that are respectful, practical and grounded in community priorities. The amendments recognise the importance of Aboriginal values and knowledges in caring for country and environment protection, and formalise through legislation the EPA's inclusion of Aboriginal peoples' perspectives and knowledges into how it carries out its functions.
These reforms do not reflect a major step change in environmental regulation, and do not delegate decision‑making powers or create new functions for Aboriginal peoples. They do ensure, though, that Aboriginal cultural values and environmental knowledges are included in the EPA's work, supporting a model of environmental stewardship that listens to, learns from and respects the Aboriginal peoples of New South Wales. These are measured reforms but they carry real meaning. They reflect the value of genuine partnership, the strength of Aboriginal cultures and a shared commitment to protecting country for generations to come. I commend the bill to the house.
