Consultation is open - Help shape the future of Australian Marine Parks

The Australian Government is intending to prepare 6 draft management plans for 44 Australian Marine Parks, protecting 2.37 million square kilometres.

Consultation is now open, giving Australians the opportunity to help shape the protection of our ocean.

The Director of National Parks is inviting comments between 31 July and 30 September on the:

• Proposal to prepare six draft management plans for 44 Australian Marine Parks and
• Proposal to proclaim changes to Norfolk, Lord Howe and Gifford Marine Parks

The new management plans will replace five current plans for the Temperate East, North, North-west, and South-west networks and the Coral Sea Marine Park, which all expire in 2028. A separate plan is also proposed for Norfolk Marine Park.

Independent evaluation reports for these plans are now available. Members of the public are encouraged to consider the findings of the evaluation when preparing their submissions.

Feedback received during this first consultation period will be considered by the Director of National Parks and inform the drafting of the management plans. A final round of public consultation will be held on the draft management plans in 2027.

Comments on the proposed changes to Norfolk, Lord Howe and Gifford Marine Parks will inform final proclamation recommendations in a report by the Director of National Parks for the Minister for the Environment and Water. These proposed changes have been informed by the Norfolk and Lord Howe island communities.

How to provide comments

You can make a submission through the Have Your Say platform on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s website.

There are two separate consultations. Please review these consultation pages for the relevant documents and information to inform your comments:

• Proposal to prepare six draft management plans for 44 Australian Marine Parks and
• Proposal to proclaim changes to Norfolk, Lord Howe and Gifford Marine Parks

Online comments must be received no later than 4:00 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Comments received after the consultation period closes or via other means may not be considered in accordance with the EPBC Act. 

Alternative options for providing comments

Hard copy submissions can be sent to the below postal address:

For residents of Norfolk Island hard-copy submissions can be provided to the Norfolk Island National Park Tender Box with the following address:

If you wish to provide a hard copy submission on both the preparation of draft management plans and the proposed proclamations, please clearly identify this so it can be considered as part of the relevant consultation process.

Hard copies must be sent by 4:00 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday 30 September 2026. Hard copy comments sent after the consultation period closes or via other means may not be considered in accordance with the EPBC Act

If you have any questions, please contact marineparksreview@dcceew.gov.au.