Northern Territory Assessment Bilateral Agreement

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A new assessment bilateral agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory governments has been drafted. It aligns with the new Environment Protection Act 2019 (NT) that came into force on 28 June 2020.

The new agreement will:

  • establish a streamlined environmental assessment process
  • accredit Northern Territory to assess proposed actions that would otherwise also be assessed by the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act

It will revoke and replace the existing agreement of 11 December 2014.

This assessment agreement is separate from approval agreements for single touch environmental approvals.

We invite you to comment on the draft Northern Territory Assessment Bilateral Agreement.

Make a submission

Share your feedback through a formal written submission.

To have your say:

Submissions are open until 29 January 2021.

What happens next?

We will consider all comments received. These will be used to revise the Northern Territory Assessment Bilateral Agreement.

Once finalised, the Minister can invite the Northern Territory Environment Minister to enter into the agreement.

Changes will apply once the agreement is signed by:

  • Australian Government Minister for the Environment
  • Northern Territory Minister for the Environment.


A new assessment bilateral agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory governments has been drafted. It aligns with the new Environment Protection Act 2019 (NT) that came into force on 28 June 2020.

The new agreement will:

  • establish a streamlined environmental assessment process
  • accredit Northern Territory to assess proposed actions that would otherwise also be assessed by the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act

It will revoke and replace the existing agreement of 11 December 2014.

This assessment agreement is separate from approval agreements for single touch environmental approvals.

We invite you to comment on the draft Northern Territory Assessment Bilateral Agreement.

Make a submission

Share your feedback through a formal written submission.

To have your say:

Submissions are open until 29 January 2021.

What happens next?

We will consider all comments received. These will be used to revise the Northern Territory Assessment Bilateral Agreement.

Once finalised, the Minister can invite the Northern Territory Environment Minister to enter into the agreement.

Changes will apply once the agreement is signed by:

  • Australian Government Minister for the Environment
  • Northern Territory Minister for the Environment.