We've listed plain language explanations for some terms that we use frequently across our website. You'll also find some of these terms defined or used in relevant legislation. Terms with a specific legislative definition are marked with an asterisk (*).
If there are any inconsistencies between this glossary and terms used or defined in legislation, the term has the meaning set out in the legislation.
If you don't see a term you're looking for, please tell us on the 'Was this page helpful?' form at the end of this page.
Legislative definitions
You can access the relevant legislation here:
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (EPBC Regulation)
- Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981
Glossary terms
EPBC Act
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is Australia's national environmental law. It gives us a legal framework to protect the environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance. See also: matters of national environmental significance.
Learn more: About the EPBC Act
action*
A project, development, an undertaking, or other activity, or series of activities. Under the EPBC Act, an 'action' can also include a change to any of these things. The EPBC Act is generally concerned with actions that could have a significant impact on a protected matter. See also: protected matter, significant impact.
Learn more: Referrals and assessments
action management plan*
A plan for managing the impacts of an action on a protected matter. If you choose to, you can submit this plan for the Environment minister to approve as a condition of your approval. If they approve the plan, you must then implement it. See also: action, conditions of approval, protected matter.
Learn more: Action management plans
advisory committees
Expert committees that advise the Environment minister and us under the EPBC Act. We appoint them for their knowledge and experience in a range of areas, for example:
- threatened species science
- First Nations people’s knowledge
- coal seam gas and large coal mining science.
See also: biodiversity, Environment minister, heritage value.
Learn more: Advisory committees
approval period
The timeframe that the Environment minister grants an approval for. This will usually be the time we expect you to complete the project and meet any conditions of approval and offset requirements. See also: action, Environment minister, offsets.
Learn more: Referral and assessment process
assessment method (also called an 'assessment approach' in the EPBC Act)
The method we use to gather information about, and assess the likely impact of, a controlled action. The assessment method we decide to use depends on factors like:
- how extensive the likely impacts are
- how complex the action is
- comments received from the public and relevant Commonwealth, state and territory ministers.
See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, controlled action, protected matter, significant impact.
Learn more: Decisions on assessment method
assessment process for controlled actions
The process the Environment minister uses to assess whether to approve a controlled action referred to us. The Environment minister bases their assessment on:
- the relevant impacts the action is likely to have on one or more protected matters
- the specific matters set out in the EPBC Act that are relevant to the protected matters
- economic and social matters
- the principles of ecologically sustainable development
- the assessment report, which generally includes comments from the public and relevant Commonwealth, state and territory ministers, and information about strategies for mitigating any adverse impacts.
When the Environment minister assesses an action, they consider all impacts and other information needed under the EPBC Act. However, they can generally only consider information in relation to the protected matters identified in the 'controlled action' decision notice.
See also: action, controlled action, ecologically sustainable development, Environment minister, protected matter, referral process, significant impact.
Learn more: Referrals and assessments
beneficial impact
An impact that benefits a protected matter. The Environment minister can't consider a beneficial impact when they're making a decision on a referral. See also: Environment minister, protected matter, referral process.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
bilateral agreement*
An agreement between the Australian Government and a state or territory government. These agreements may deal with various matters, including:
- protecting the environment
- promoting the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources
- developing environmental assessment and approval of action processes
- minimising duplication in the above process.
See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, controlled action.
Learn more: Shared assessments with states and territories
biodiversity*
The variety of life on earth, including within and between groups of plants, animals, microorganisms and their ecosystems. See also: matters of national environmental significance.
Learn more: Biodiversity conservation
breeding habitat
The habitat that a species uses during its breeding cycle. This may differ from its foraging, roosting and dispersal habitats. See also: dispersal habitat, foraging habitat, roosting habitat.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
clearly unacceptable
One of the possible decisions the Environment minister can make about a referred action. This decision means that the Environment minister believes your proposed action would have unacceptable impacts on a protected matter.
This decision means your action will not be assessed, and you're banned from taking that action. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, controlled action, not a controlled action, not a controlled action (particular manner), protected matter, significant impact.
Learn more: Decisions on referred actions
Commonwealth Heritage place*
A place that is included in the Commonwealth Heritage List. These must be either:
- within a Commonwealth area
- owned or leased by the Australian Government, if outside Australia.
See also: heritage value, Commonwealth Heritage value.
Learn more: Australia's Commonwealth Heritage List
Commonwealth Heritage value*
The value of a place that means it meets one of the Commonwealth Heritage criteria necessary to be included in the Commonwealth Heritage List. See also: heritage value, Commonwealth Heritage place.
Learn more: Commonwealth Heritage List criteria
conditions of approval
Any requirements that the Environment minister attaches to their approval of an action. See also: action.
Learn more: Approvals
conservation agreement*
A written agreement that the Australian Government makes with a person – often a state or territory government – to protect matters set out in section 305 of the EPBC Act, including Australian biodiversity. See also: biodiversity, person.
Learn more: Conservation agreements
controlled action*
One of the possible decisions the Environment minister can make about a referred action. A controlled action is one that the minister decides has, will have, or is likely to have, a significant impact on a protected matter.
If your action is a ‘controlled action’, the Environment minister needs to assess it further before deciding whether to approve it. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, clearly unacceptable, not a controlled action, not a controlled action (particular manner), protected matter, significant impact.
Learn more: Decisions on referred actions
DEAP (Digital Environmental Assessments Program)
An initiative to transform environmental assessment and approval processes by enabling more:
- transparent decision-making
- streamlined processes
- integrated systems.
Learn more: Digital Environmental Assessments Program (DEAP)
declared Ramsar wetland*
Wetlands that are:
- designated by the Commonwealth under the Ramsar Convention to be included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance; or
- declared by the Environment minister as Ramsar wetlands.
Australia has 66 of these wetlands. See also: protected matter.
Learn more: What’s protected
declared World Heritage properties*
Properties, including in Australia, that are on the World Heritage List for their heritage values. See also: heritage, World Heritage Convention, World Heritage value.
designated proponent*
The person who is specified as being responsible for meeting the EPBC Act requirements during the assessment process. They may or may not be the person proposing to take the action. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, person, person proposing an action.
Learn more: Pre-referral meeting
direct impact
An event or situation that is a direct consequence of your action. For example, you might need to clear the habitat of a listed threatened species to build a road. See also: action, indirect impact, listed threatened species and listed ecological community, significant impact.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
dispersal habitat
The habitat that a species uses to travel through and rest in. This may differ from its foraging, roosting and breeding habitats. See also: breeding habitat, foraging habitat, roosting habitat.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
ecological value
The importance of an ecosystem. This importance may relate to:
- its living or non-living components
- the processes that characterise it.
See also: protected matter.
Learn more: What’s protected
Environment minister
Either the Commonwealth minister who has responsibility for administering the EPBC Act, or their delegate. A delegate is a person to whom the minister has delegated a power or function in the EPBC Act. See also: EPBC Act.
Learn more: EPBC Act Policy Statement - EPBC Act Delegations
EPBC number
A unique identifying number that we attach to a referral once we've validated it. It identifies the action to us for the life of any assessment or approval. See also: referral process.
Learn more: Referral process
facilitated impact
Impacts of further actions, including by a third party, that an action makes possible. For example, if you build a highway through a wilderness area, someone else might build roadside services for that road, which then have their own impacts. See also: action, direct impact, indirect impact, significant impact.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
foraging habitat
The habitat where a species finds food. This may differ from its breeding, roosting and dispersal habitats. See also: breeding habitat, dispersal habitat, nesting habitat, roosting habitat.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
habitat value
The attributes of a habitat that support the communities of plants, animals and microorganisms that live within it. See also: matters of national environmental significance, protected matter.
Learn more: What’s protected
heritage value*
A place’s natural and cultural environment that has aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or other significance for current and future generations.
See also: Commonwealth Heritage place, Commonwealth Heritage value, declared World Heritage properties, National Heritage list, National Heritage value, World Heritage Convention, World Heritage value.
Learn more: Heritage
impact site
The site or area on which your action will have an impact.
Sometimes also called a 'development envelope', or a project or development 'footprint'. See also: action, land-based direct offset, significant impact.
Learn more: Environmental offsets
independent reviews
Reviews that an independent person or body conducts into the operation of the EPBC Act and the extent to which the objects of that Act have been achieved. The objects are in section 3 of the EPBC Act. See also: EPBC Act.
Learn more: Independent reviews
indirect impact
An impact that is an indirect consequence of an action. For example, an action to clear land could indirectly impact wetlands or ocean reefs due to sediment, fertilisers or chemicals that are washed or discharged into a nearby river system. See also: action, direct impact, facilitated impact, significant impact.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
invalid referral
A referral that's incomplete, or that doesn't meet requirements of the EPBC Act or regulations. Before the Environment minister can consider your referral, we need to validate it. See also: action, referral process.
Learn more: Referring an action under the EPBC Act
land-based direct offset
The most common type of offsets, which involve securing and improving the habitat of a protected matter. The offset site must support or be capable of supporting the protected matter. See also: impact site, matters of national environmental significance, offsets.
Learn more: Environmental offsets
listed threatened species* and listed ecological communities*
Native animals, plants or species – or communities of these – listed and protected under the EPBC Act. See also: matters of national environmental significance.
Learn more: Threatened species & ecological communities
matter of national environmental significance
Matters identified in, and protected under, Part 3 of the EPBC Act. They include:
- declared world heritage properties
- national heritage places
- wetlands of international importance, also known as Ramsar wetlands
- nationally threatened species and ecological communities
- migratory species
- the taking of nuclear actions (including uranium mining)
- Commonwealth marine areas
- the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- water resources in relation to coal seam gas development and large coal mining development.
Combined with protecting the environment from proposals involving the Commonwealth, these are also known as ‘protected matters’. See also: protected matter.
Learn more: What’s protected
mitigation measures
Measures you can take to effectively reduce any significant impact that your action has, or will have, on a protected matter. See also: action, protected matter, significant impact.
Learn more: Environmental offsets
National Heritage place*
A place on the National Heritage List within Australia that has one or more National Heritage values. See also: heritage value, National Heritage value.
Learn more: National Heritage List
National Heritage value*
The values of a place that cause the place to meet one of the 9 National Heritage criteria for inclusion on the National Heritage List. These criteria help to identify places of National Heritage importance. See also: heritage value, National Heritage place.
Learn more: National Heritage List Criteria
not a controlled action
One of the possible decisions the Environment minister can make about a referred action. This decision means the Environment minister has concluded that the action wouldn't, or is not likely to, have a significant impact on a protected matter.
If your action is ‘not a controlled action’, the Environment minister won’t assess it. But you must undertake it as you described in your referral. If you don't, you might commit an offence under the EPBC Act. Note that this is NOT an approval to take your action.
If you want to take any action that's different to the 'not controlled' action, you'll need to refer that new action to us if it will, or is likely to, have a significant impact on a protected matter. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, controlled action, not a controlled action (particular manner), protected matter, referral process, significant impact.
Learn more: Decisions on referred actions
not a controlled action (particular manner)*
One of the possible decisions the Environment minister can make about a referred action. This decision means the Environment minister has concluded that your action isn't likely to have a significant impact on a protected matter if you undertake it in the proposed particular manner.
A 'particular manner' includes measures that the Environment minister directs you to take to avoid or mitigate impacts on a protected matter. For example, you might be directed to only take your action outside the breeding season of a threatened species.
If your action is ‘not a controlled action (particular manner)’, the Environment minister won’t assess it further, but you MUST undertake it in the particular manner that the decision specifies. You can never vary this manner. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, controlled action, matters of national environmental significance, mitigation measures, not a controlled action, particular manner, referral process, significant impact.
Learn more: Decisions on referred actions
nuclear action*
A range of actions that involve interacting with nuclear or radioactive materials in some way, each of which is specifically defined under section 22 of the EPBC Act. See also: action, protected matter.
Learn more: What’s protected
offsets
Actions you take to compensate for residual or remaining significant impacts on a protected matter. An offset will usually be tangible, for example obtaining and managing land with habitat for the protected matter. See also: mitigation measures, protected matter, residual impact, significant impact.
Learn more: Environmental offsets
person
An individual or legal entity, such as a company or a state or territory government.
If the 'person proposing to take an action' (see below) is an entity, someone from that entity will be responsible for working with us during the referral and assessment process. If the action is approved, the approval will be held by the entity. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, Environment minister, referral process.
Learn more: EPBC Act
person proposing an action
We describe you as the ‘person proposing an action’ if you're the person responsible for taking an action that we may need to assess or approve under the EPBC Act. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, designated proponent, person.
Learn more: Pre-referral meeting
protected matter (also matter protected*)
A specific matter that a provision of Part 3 of the EPBC Act protects. These include matters of national environmental significance, and protecting the environment from proposals involving the Commonwealth. See also: matter of national environmental significance.
Learn more: What’s protected
pre-referral meeting
An optional, free meeting with us that you can attend to help you understand what we protect, our assessment process, and your responsibilities under the EPBC Act.
This information can then help you to decide whether you need to refer your action to us for assessment. See also: action, assessment process, protected matter, referral process, self-assessment.
Learn more: Pre-referral meeting
principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD)*
An approach to development that promotes conserving natural resources and using them sustainably. The approach is based on principles outlined in the EPBC Act, including:
- making decisions that consider economic, environmental, social and equitable factors in both the long and short term
- ensuring that if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty is not used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation
- ensuring that today's generation maintains or enhances the environment's health, diversity and productivity for future generations
- making decisions that ensure conserving biological diversity and ecological integrity is a fundamental consideration
- promoting improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms.
See also: action, significant impact.
Learn more: Approvals
referral
A written request for the Environment minister to decide whether the action you propose needs assessment and approval under the EPBC Act. You must make this request by filling out our current online referral form.
Your referral must contain enough information for the minister to know whether your action will, or is likely to, have a significant impact on one or more protected matters. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, protected matter, referral process, significant impact.
Learn more: Referral process
referral process
The process we use to decide whether your action needs assessment and approval under the EPBC Act. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, referral.
Learn more: Referral process
residual impact
Any significant impacts remaining after you’ve avoided or mitigated all other impacts. See also: mitigation measures, significant impact.
Learn more: Environmental offsets
roosting habitat
A place where winged animals like birds and bats rest or sleep. This can be, but isn't always, the same as nesting habitat. It can occur anywhere through the animal's range.
A nesting habitat is important for reproduction and raising young, while a roosting habitat is for sleep and rest. See also: breeding habitat, dispersal habitat, foraging habitat.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
self-assessment
The process of using our tools to check whether you may need to refer your action to us to assess under the EPBC Act. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, referral process.
Learn more: Self-assessments
significant impact
Broadly, an impact that is important, notable or of consequence. You must not take any action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on a protected matter without first referring it to us for assessment.
If you don't, you may face civil or criminal penalties, such as a fine or prison sentence. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions, protected matter, referral process.
Learn more: Significant impact guidelines
strategic assessment
A process where the Environment minister may approve taking an action or a class of actions in accordance with an endorsed policy, plan or program. A strategic assessment agreement provides for this kind of assessment. It's often used for landscape-scale assessments of developments and programs. See also: action, assessment process for controlled actions.
Learn more: Strategic assessments
threat abatement plan*
A plan made by the Environment minister, or adopted from a state or territory, with the purpose of reducing the effect of a listed key threatening process.
Find current threat abatement plans for specific protected matters in the Species Profile and Threats (SPRAT) database. See also: protected matters.
Learn more: SPRAT database
World Heritage Convention*
An international convention that protects natural or cultural heritage properties with ‘outstanding universal values’ around the world. Its full name is the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. See also: declared world heritage properties, heritage value, world heritage values.
Learn more: World Heritage Convention
world heritage values*
The natural and cultural heritage contained in a property of outstanding universal value.
These values are broadly described by 4 natural and 6 cultural heritage criteria established under the World Heritage Convention. See also: heritage value, World Heritage Convention.
Learn more: Outstanding universal value