Local Land Services Act 2013

A person who clears native vegetation in a regulated rural area is guilty of an offence unless the person establishes any of the following defences—

that the clearing is for an allowable activity authorised under Division 4 and Schedule 5A,

that the clearing is authorised by a land management (native vegetation) code under Division 5,

that the clearing is authorised by an approval of the Panel under Division 6,

that the clearing is authorised under section 60O (Clearing authorised under other legislation etc),

that the clearing is the carrying out of a forestry operation authorised under Part 5B (Private native forestry).

for an offence that was committed intentionally and that caused or was likely to cause significant harm to the environment—

in the case of a corporation—$5 million, or

in the case of an individual—$1 million, or

for any other offence—

in the case of a corporation—$2 million, or

in the case of an individual—$500,000.

The defences under subsection (1) (a)–(c) do not apply if the clearing was the carrying out of a forestry operation in a State forest or other Crown-timber land to which an integrated forestry operations approval under Part 5B of the Forestry Act 2012 applies.

The higher maximum penalty under this section does not apply unless—

the prosecution establishes (to the criminal standard of proof) that the offence was committed intentionally and caused or was likely to cause significant harm to the environment, and

the court attendance notice or application commencing the proceedings alleged that those factors applied to the commission of the offence.

For the purposes of this section, clearing of native vegetation is not authorised as referred to in subsection (1) unless the conditions to which the authorisation is subject (including any conditions of a land management (native vegetation) code relating to the clearing or any certificate or approval issued or granted for the clearing) are complied with. This subsection extends to conditions that impose obligations on the person who clears the native vegetation that are required to be complied with before or after the clearing is carried out.

This section does not operate to preclude the commission of an offence under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 in relation to the clearing of native vegetation.