Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the exposure draft National Environmental Standard (Matters of National Environmental Significance) 2026 (revised draft MNES Standard) and the draft policy position paper: National Environmental Standard for Matters of National Environmental Significance (draft MNES Policy Position). The MNES Standard is one of the most important of the National Environment Standards (Standards) in that it assists in providing more guidance to decision-makers when considering how to best protect matters of national environmental significance. The MNES Standard is a fundamental instrument for helping to improve environmental outcomes and to curb the extinction crisis across Australia.