Statutory reviews
The Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) requires different reviews related to the Reef protection regulations:
- a review of the agricultural environmentally relevant activities (ERA) standards (regulated standards) for commercial sugarcane and banana cultivation and beef cattle grazing in the Great Barrier Reef catchment (Regulated standards statutory review)
- a review of the effectiveness of the Reef protection regulations (Reef protection regulations statutory review)
Regulated standards statutory review
The regulated standards are part of the Reef protection regulations and require producers to adopt practices that minimise nutrient and sediment run-off flowing to local waterways and the Great Barrier Reef.
A statutory review of the regulated standards commenced in mid-November 2024 and under legislation, the review must be completed within 12 months after commencement.
The review is looking at whether the regulated standards are easy to understand and clear to comply with and remain fit for purpose and evidence based.
It is not re-assessing the effectiveness of the Reef protection regulations in achieving practice change to reduce pollutant loads. This was undertaken in 2023 with the Reef protection regulations statutory review which determined the regulations remain an effective and important tool.
Public consultation
Feedback was invited from agricultural producers, peak bodies and others with an interest in the regulated standards through a public consultation period that was open from 23 May 2025 to 12 August 2025.
A wide range of stakeholders including producers, advisers, Natural Resource Management groups, researchers, industry, agricultural peak bodies and conservation groups provided feedback via workshops, an anonymous survey, written submissions and individual discussions.
Next steps
A report will be prepared on the outcomes of the review.
If the review findings recommend changes to the regulated standards, a regulatory process will be required, which will involve further public consultation.
Reef protection regulations statutory review - completed
A statutory review of the Reef protection regulations commenced in February 2023 and was completed in February 2024.
The Statutory review of the Reef protection regulations report can be found on the Queensland Parliament website.
Purpose and scope
The purpose of the review was to assess the extent to which the Reef protection regulations have been effective in reducing pollutant loads (specifically dissolved inorganic nitrogen and sediment suspended in the water).
To do this, the review looked at whether practices had improved and explored if there were any challenges with implementation.
The review did not include broader matters such as water quality targets or water quality science. These issues were outside the scope set under the EP Act and are being considered as part of the review of the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.
Review results
The review did not recommend any changes to the Reef protection regulations, but did find that they:
- have resulted in practice change
- are an influential part of a suite of practice change interventions being implemented to generally address poor Reef water quality (including both agricultural and industrial sources of sediment and nutrient loads)
- are complemented by targeted investment and delivery of voluntary practice change programs and projects and this enhances progress.
The review identified opportunities to improve engagement with the regulated community and to continue to assist them to comply with and go beyond the regulated standards.
The opportunities will be considered as part of the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.
The Reef protection regulations are only one part of a suite of tools to drive water quality improvements for the Great Barrier Reef.
The Queensland Government is committed to working with landholders and investing in industry-led best management practice programs to improve water quality.
The Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program has committed $123.6 million over five years to 2025–2026 to support the agricultural industry.
For further information, please contact officeofthegbr@detsi.qld.gov.au.