Information Publication Scheme

The National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) and National Environment Protection Council Service Corporation (NEPCSC) are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) and are therefore required to comply with the Information Publication Scheme established pursuant to Part 2 of the FOI Act.

In particular, section 8(2) of the FOI Act imposes an obligation on the NEPC and NEPCSC to publish the following information on its website:

  • an agency plan which describes how the NEPC and NEPCSC proposes to comply with the Information Publication Scheme requirements
  • details of the NEPC's and NEPCSC's structure
  • details of the agency's functions, including its decision making powers and other powers affecting members of the public
  • details of appointments of officers
  • the NEPC's and NEPCSC's annual reports
  • details of arrangements for members of the public to comment on specific policy proposals for which the NEPC and NEPCSC is responsible
  • information in documents to which the agency routinely gives access in response to requests made under Part II of the FOI Act
  • information that the NEPC and NEPCSC routinely provides to the Parliament in response to requests and orders from the Parliament
  • details of an officer who can be contacted about access to the NEPC's and NEPCSC's information or documents under the FOI Act, and
  • the NEPC 's and NEPCSC's operational information.

The NEPC and NEPCSC publish the documents required to be published under the Information Publication Scheme on its website (www.nepc.gov.au).

Agency Plan

Section 8(1) of the FOI Act imposes an obligation on the NEPC and NEPCSC to publish an agency plan which describes how the NEPC and NEPCSC propose to comply with the Information Publication Scheme requirements. The agency plan is required to set out the following information:

  • the information the NEPC and NEPCSC proposes to publish under the Information Publication Scheme;
  • how, and to whom, the NEPC and NEPCSC proposes to publish the information, and
  • other steps the NEPC and NEPCSC will take to comply with the Information Publication Scheme requirements.

Download the Agency Plan

Agency Plan (PDF - 55.51 KB) | (DOC - 64 KB)

What we do

The NEPC is a statutory body with law-making powers established under the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 and corresponding legislation in other Australian jurisdictions. The NEPC has two primary functions:

  1. to make National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs)
  2. to assess and report on the implementation and effectiveness of NEPMs in participating jurisdictions.

The members of the NEPC are ministers, not necessarily environment ministers, from the participating jurisdictions (i.e. Commonwealth, state or territory governments). The NEPCSC is also a statutory authority, which provides project management services and administrative support to the NEPC and to the Standing Council on Environment and Water in the development of national environmental policy and NEPMs.

Reports

Information published under this heading includes:

Consultation arrangements

The NEPC and NEPCSC publish information on their website regarding consultation opportunities, including information about how and to whom comments may be submitted. Consultation discussion papers may be available on the NEPC and NEPCSC website www.nepc.gov.au.

Freedom of Information (including routinely requested information and disclosure log)

Information about how to make a FOI request and the address, telephone number and email address for a contact officer who can be contacted about access to the NEPC's and NEPCSC's information and documents can be obtained on the Department's Freedom of Information page. In addition, information that has been released in response to a request for access to information made under the FOI Act can be obtained from the Department's disclosure log.

Operational information

The NEPC and NEPCSC publish on their website a wide range of information used by the NEPC and NEPCSC to assist in the exercise of their functions and powers. This information is available under the publications page.

Queries relating to operational information may be directed to 02 6274 1819 or by email at nepc@environment.gov.au.