Australia’s first National Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has appointed veteran public sector leader John Bradley PSM as its inaugural chief executive officer, ahead of the agency’s official launch on 1 July.
The National EPA forms a key part of the Federal Government’s environmental law reforms and will operate as an independent regulator responsible for compliance, enforcement and oversight of strengthened national environmental standards.
According to the government, the agency is intended to deliver stronger environmental protections while supporting productivity through more streamlined project approvals and greater regulatory consistency.
For the packaging industry, the establishment of the National EPA is likely to be closely watched as environmental regulation, compliance and approval processes become increasingly important to packaging reform, recycling infrastructure and circular economy investment.
Bradley brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience across environmental regulation, energy, water, climate, natural resources and planning. Most recently, he led Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and its predecessor agency, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, over an eight-year period.
Federal Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt said Bradley’s experience across government, industry and the not-for-profit sector made him well placed to establish the new regulator.
“Mr Bradley’s diverse background in public administration, industry and the not-for-profit sector make him the ideal candidate to effectively deliver real gains for the environment and business through the National EPA,” Watt said.
Bradley said the agency would play an important role as an independent environmental regulator.
“The National EPA has a critical role to play as the agile, independent umpire Australia's environment needs,” he said.
“We will work closely with the stakeholders and jurisdictions who have already contributed significantly to these reforms, as the National EPA hits the ground running this year.”
Bradley has been appointed for a five-year term.
