High Seas Biodiversity Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

Australia is implementing its commitments under a United Nations agreement (BBNJ) to help protect ocean life in international waters beyond any country's control. The legislation creates a new regulatory regime that sets rules for Australian activities affecting marine genetic resources, establishes environmental impact assessments for planned ocean activities, and enables Australia to support the creation of marine protected areas in international waters. It also adopts the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014 framework with modern enforcement tools like audit powers and penalty provisions. This matters because over 60% of the world's ocean lies beyond any nation's borders, and Australia needs binding domestic laws to manage its role in protecting global ocean health while supporting its fishing, shipping, and other marine industries that depend on healthy seas.

What happens at this stage

The main debate on whether the chamber supports the broad purpose of the bill. Members speak to its overall merits and concerns rather than the fine print. The government outlines its policy intentions; the opposition and crossbench put their case. This is the stage that determines whether the bill proceeds at all.

Next: Consideration in Detail (House) or Committee of the Whole (Senate), where the bill is examined clause by clause