Internal Review Of LEX 78213 - Request For Ministerial Briefings.

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This briefing documents the Department's engagement with Monaro region landholders regarding conflicts between the EPBC Act and agricultural practices. The Office of Compliance conducted farm visits and meetings with landholders, councils, and NSW agencies from early 2018 onward to develop practical guidance on national environmental law application. A key issue involves the listing of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South East Highlands, which captures native grasslands and improved pastures in the region, creating regulatory overlap with agricultural operations. Another tension concerns weed management: national regulations restrict broad-scale spraying of invasive species like African Lovegrass to areas exceeding 50 per cent weed cover, constraining better practice management approaches. The Department developed targeted regional guidance in response to an independent review recommending a non-statutory pilot approach for the Monaro region to balance environmental protection and agricultural productivity objectives.