Late last year, the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) was amended. Cotton Australia has been working with the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) during the months leading up to this, as the proposed legislative reforms were being considered by the Albanese Government.

These efforts have continued in the months since December 2025. Cotton Australia supports the NFF’s statements made in last Friday’s Senate Committee hearing about these laws:

• The implementation phase of these reforms was not properly considered for agriculture.
• There remains significant confusion about how routine agricultural practices will be treated and what is and is not included under assessment. •
• Farmers need:
  • Clarity, this includes agricultural-specific guidance for the nine Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), a practical self-assessment pathway, and ensuring there are accessible correction mechanisms to address deficiencies in mapping
  • To have confidence if they follow approved process and tools, that they won’t be penalised later; plus.
  • Accurate and current mapping, that includes a simple, clear way to fix errors when they find them.

NFF is continuing to engage with the Department to resolve these issues because properly negotiated, bilateral agreements provide opportunity to ensure state and territory based issues are addressed and resolved.

The key takeaway for Cotton Australia members from these changes and ongoing Department discussions is that myBMP positions growers well to meet the Act’s reforms. Its various IPM and NRM actions help growers demonstrate and document their management of the farming landscape.

Cotton Australia will provide more updates as Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) rolls out the series of discussion papers about the Standards proposed by the reforms. Cotton Australia Board has been and will continue to be briefed on these implications.