The Enhanced Project By-law Scheme (EPBS) provides tariff duty concessions on eligible capital goods for major investment projects in the mining, resource processing, food processing, food packaging, manufacturing, agriculture and gas supply industry sectors and, since 1 July 2006, the power supply and water supply industries. Introduced on 1 July 2002, the EPBS assists Australian industry by:
- Encouraging and enhancing investment in world class operations in Australia
- Encouraging Australian industry involvement in supplying goods and services
- Lowering input costs for industry where there are sound reasons for doing so
- Facilitating Australian industry participation in domestic and international supply chains.
For further information on the EPBS please visit the AusIndustry website.
The scheme incorporates an Australian Industry Participation (AIP) Plan to encourage the use of Australian industry in projects and global supply chains. An AIP Plan is an essential element of the EPBS. The revised EPBS Policy and Administrative Guidelines (released on 30 April 2010) sets out the terms, policy and administrative criteria for the Scheme, including the criteria for an AIP Plan.
The AIP Plan Guide for EPBS can assist EPBS applicants to prepare and implement an AIP Plan.
AIP Plans enable major project proponents to show how they provide full, fair and reasonable opportunity to Australian industry to participate in major projects.
AIP Plans offer major project proponents an opportunity to familiarise themselves with Australian industry capability, identify qualified suppliers and secure valuable support for the project from industry, local communities and governments.
Since the scheme's inception, over 387 projects, worth over $244 billion, have received access under the scheme.
EPBS Evaluation
In 2010 independent consultancy firm Access Economics was commissioned by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research to evaluate the EPBS. The evaluation examined the scheme's appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and integration of the scheme with other Government initiatives. The executive summary [
PDF 256KB] [
RTF 861KB] presents the key findings and recommendations arising from the evaluation.
This was the first full evaluation of the EPBS. The evaluation highlights the importance of the scheme and presents options for the future positioning of the scheme.
The Department is considering the recommendations of the evaluation, noting that the report suggests significant changes to the scheme should not occur during the next 12 months. The Department plans to conduct further stakeholder consultation over the course of 2011 to obtain feedback on reform options proposed by the evaluation.