Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Annual Report 2011–12
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- Reforming National Environment Law
- The Australian Government biodiversity policy–consultation draft
- The EPBC Act environmental offsets policy–consultation draft
- Cost recovery under the EPBC Act
- National Centre for Cooperation on Environment and Development
- Council of Australian Governments national reform agenda for environmental regulation
- National parks
- Legislation amendments
3. EPBC Act regulatory reformRegulatory reform taskforceThe work of the department during 2011–12 included the launch and implementation of the National Environment Law Reform package, progressing reforms through COAG, and investigating options to increase the protection of national parks. Reforming National Environment LawThe minister commissioned Dr Allan Hawke AC in October 2008 to undertake an independent review of the EPBC Act. Dr Hawke presented his final report to the minister in October 2009. The findings of the independent review were discussed in the department’s 2010–11 annual report, and are also available at The minister announced the government’s National Environment Law Reform package in an address to the National Press Club on 24 August 2011. The reform package included:
The department is implementing the government’s national environment law reforms, including through the development of amendments to the EPBC Act. These reforms will ensure that Australia’s national environmental laws support efficient and effective environmental protection and facilitate sustainable development. These reforms will also cut regulatory burden and provide increased certainty for the business sector. The department has worked with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to draft a Bill to implement the government response. The minister has given high priority to stakeholder engagement throughout the reform process and has held a number of roundtable meetings with industry representatives, environmental organisations and the scientific community. The department has also consulted with stakeholders regarding the proposed amendments. In March 2012 departmental officials discussed with stakeholder peak bodies how the Government response to the independent review of the EPBC Act 1999 will be implemented through amendments to the EPBC Act. The Australian Government biodiversity policy–consultation draftThis policy aims to deliver a more integrated government approach to addressing the challenge of biodiversity conservation in a changing climate. This policy is intended as a high-level reference guide. It describes the role of the government and the principles that will guide the design and delivery of its policies and programs relating to biodiversity. The policy reflects Australia’s international obligations under the Convention on Biodiversity and will underpin the Australian Government’s role in delivering Australia’s biodiversity conservation strategy 2010–2030 jointly with state and territory governments. Public consultation on the consultation draft closed on 21 October 2011. Thirty-two submissions were received. The EPBC Act environmental offsets policy–consultation draftThis consultation draft outlines the government’s position on the use of environmental offsets under the EPBC Act, including the circumstances under which offsets can be required, how the quantum of offsets and their suitability are determined, and the framework within which the offsets policy will operate. The draft policy provides a transparent framework to give greater certainty for businesses considering actions that may potentially be subject to an offset requirement, while also promoting consistency and delivering good environmental outcomes. A draft Offsets assessment guide was also released for consultation and has been developed to set out the requirements of the offsets policy in quantitative terms. Public consultation on the consultation draft closed on 21 October 2011. Fifty-four submissions were received, and were published on the department’s website. Two stakeholder workshops were held in order to discuss the draft policy and guide, on 28 September 2011 and 28 June 2012. The department also commenced consultation with state and territory governments on the draft policy and guide in 2011–12.
The Australian Government has decided to proceed with cost recovery arrangements for environmental impact assessments and some categories of strategic assessment, and to increase fees for wildlife trade under the EPBC Act. This is subject to amendments to the EPBC Act and consideration of a final cost recovery impact statement by the government. On 10 May 2012 the department released a draft cost recovery impact statement for a six-week consultation period. The draft statement outlined in detail the range of activities under the EPBC Act that are proposed to be subject to cost recovery arrangements, and the nature of those arrangements. On 13 April 2012 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) reaffirmed its commitment to high environmental standards while committing to reducing duplicative environmental assessment and approval processes for business and industry. EPBC Act cost recovery as outlined in the draft cost recovery impact statement will only apply to the work that the Australian Government does under national environmental law. The Australian Government will not charge for work done by states under accredited arrangements. National Centre for Cooperation on Environment and DevelopmentThe department is considering the establishment of a National Centre for Cooperation on Environment and Development. The proposed national centre would provide a neutral forum in which industry, scientists, non-government organisations and governments could cooperate in developing environmental standards, guidelines and procedures to be used under the EPBC Act. The department sought expressions of interest on the national centre from interested parties in September 2011. Fifty-five responses to the expressions of interest were received. The department subsequently released a discussion paper to these respondents in May 2012 to provide further information to them on the proposed national centre. The discussion paper outlined the potential scope for membership in the national centre, as well as potential work priorities. Interested parties were asked to indicate the level of participation with the national centre that they were willing to offer, advise on their areas of expertise and experience, and identify specific projects which they would be interested in developing through the national centre. Council of Australian Governments national reform agenda for environmental regulationOn 19 August 2011 COAG agreed to develop options for a national agenda for reform of environmental regulation including:
The Australian Government continued to progress the alignment of Commonwealth, state and territory threatened species listings in 2011–12. A potential new model to further progress and improve threatened species list alignment was developed in consultation with all jurisdictions. It is planned to finalise this model in 2012–13. On 13 April 2012 COAG reaffirmed its commitment to high environmental standards, while reducing duplication and streamlining assessment and approval processes. COAG agreed that governments will work together to achieve the following reform outcomes to:
The work previously agreed by COAG will continue and contribute to the extended scope of COAG’s April 2012 decision. National parksThe minister announced his intention to provide increased protection for high biodiversity in national parks in Australia in an address to the Sydney Institute on 20 July 2011. The minister consulted the states, territories and selected stakeholders in July and August 2011 on a potential regulatory approach for providing this increased protection. The department is continuing to investigate options to provide increased protection for national parks, including an analysis of available options through a regulation impact statement. Legislation amendmentsDuring 2011–12, two private member’s Bills were introduced into the Senate proposing amendments to the EPBC Act. Three private member’s Bills were introduced into the House of Representatives during 2011–12 proposing amendments to that Act, one of which was discharged from the Senate, and one was discharged from the House before 30 June 2012. These Bills were:
Three private member’s Bills introduced in the Senate in 2010–11 remained before the Senate as of 30 June 2012. These Bills were:
Two private member’s Bill proposing amendments to the EPBC Act and introduced in the House of Representatives in 2010–11 were discharged from the House in 2011–12. These Bills were:
Directory: system -> files -> resources resources -> Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An Analysis of International Approaches resources -> The National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List: 1 july 2008 30 june 2013 resources -> Reference list for water related coal seam gas and coal mining research resources -> Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators isd sections of Law resources -> Executive Summary 3 Background 4 Developing the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme 4 resources -> Threat abatement plan for disease in natural ecosystems caused by resources -> Sawfish and River Sharks Multispecies Issues Paper resources -> Wildlife Trade Management Plan – Queensland Crocodile Farming Download 5.6 Mb. Share with your friends:
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