Footnotes

Chapter 1

[1]        The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975; the Whale Protection Act 1980; the World Heritage (Properties Conservation) Act 1983; and the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992.

[2]        EPBC Act, s. 3(1).

[3]        An action includes a project, development, undertaking, activity or series of activities, or an alteration of any of these.

[4]        There are a number of exceptions: actions taken in accordance with a bilateral agreement or accredited Commonwealth approval process, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 or a regional forest agreement; authorised by a government decision on advice from the minister; or exempted by the minister on the basis of national interest.

[5]        Bilateral agreements currently exist with Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. There are currently no accredited Commonwealth processes.

[6]        Chris Smyth (Australian Conservation Foundation), Marine environment left unprotected by weak laws, 1 Feb 2008, http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=1622&c=113435 (accessed March 2009); ANEDO, EPBC Act: recommendations for reform, 5 March 2008, pp 6–7, http://www.edo.org.au/policy/epbc_amendment_package080305.pdf (accessed March 2009).

[7]        ANEDO, EPBC Act: recommendations for reform, 5 March 2008, pp 6–7, http://www.edo.org.au/policy/epbc_amendment_package080305.pdf (accessed March 2009).

[8]        ANAO, Audit Report No.31 2006–07, The conservation and protection of national threatened species and ecological communities, pp 17–19.

[9]        ANAO, Audit Report No.31 2006–07, The conservation and protection of national threatened species and ecological communities, pp 21–22.

[10]      ANEDO, EPBC Act: recommendations for reform, 5 March 2008, p. 8, http://www.edo.org.au/policy/epbc_amendment_package080305.pdf (accessed March 2009).

[11]      ANEDO, EPBC Act: recommendations for reform, 5 March 2008, pp 9–16, http://www.edo.org.au/policy/epbc_amendment_package080305.pdf (accessed March 2009).

[12]      ANAO, Audit Report No.31 2006–07, The conservation and protection of national threatened species and ecological communities, pp 22–24.

[13]      Andrew Macintosh and Debra Wilkinson, 'EPBC Act: the case for reform', Australasian Journal of Natural Resources Law and Policy, vol. 10, no. 1, 2005, p. 155.

[14]      ANAO, Audit Report No.31 2006–07, The conservation and protection of national threatened species and ecological communities, p. 25.

Chapter 2 - The scope of the EPBC Act

[1]        EPBC Act, s. 3(1).

[2]        Brown v Forestry Tasmania (No 4) [2006] FCA 1729.

[3]        Forestry Tasmania v Brown [2007] FCAFC 186, at paragraphs 71–73.

[4]        Brown v Forestry Tasmania (No 4) [2006] FCA 1729, at paragraphs 195–198.

[5]        Mr Tom Baxter, Submission 65, p. 4.

[6]        The Wilderness Society, Submission 51, p. 5.

[7]        Green Institute, Submission 78; WWF-Australia, Submission 81; Western Australian Forest Alliance, Submission 88; Professor Lee Godden, Submission 92; NPAC, Submission 93; CCACT, Submission 94.

[8]        Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO, 17th Session. Done at Paris, 16 November 1972. 1037 UNTS 151, 11 ILM 1367 (entered into force 17 December 1975). http://whc.unesco.org/archive/convention-en.pdf (accessed February 2009).

[9]        Submission 65, p. 6.

[10]       Productivity Commission, 2004, Impacts of Native Vegetation and Biodiversity Regulations, Report no. 29, Melbourne, p. xxxv.

[11]       Submission 85, p. 16.

[12]       Submission 85, p. 16.

[13]       DEWHA, About the EPBC Act, Glossary, www.environment.gov.au/epbc/about/glossary.html (accessed 10 December 2008).

[14]       DEWHA, What is protected under the EPBC Act, www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/index.html (accessed 10 December 2008).

[15]       DEWHA, World Heritage properties and National Heritage places, www.enviroment.gov.au/epbc/protect/heritage.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[16]       DEWHA, The National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists, 1 Jan 2004 – 30 June 2008, Commonwealth of Australia, 2008, p. 7; DEWHA, World Heritage properties and National heritage places, www.enviroment.gov.au/epbc/protect/heritage.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[17]       The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 February 1972 in Ramsar, Iran; commonly referred to as the Convention on Wetlands or the Ramsar Convention.

[18]       DEWHA, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, www.environment.gov.au/water/environmental/wetlands/ramsar/index.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[19]       DEWHA, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, www.environment.gov.au/water/environmental/wetlands/ramsar/index.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[20]       DEWHA, Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar wetlands), www.environmentlgov.au/epbc/protect/wetlands.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[21]       DEWHA, Australian Ramsar management principles, www.environment.gov.au/water/environmental/wetlands/ramsar/management.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[22]       DEWHA, Listed threatened species and ecological communities, www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/species-communities.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[23]       DEWHA, Listed migratory species, www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/migratory.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[24]       DEWHA, Commonwealth marine areas, www.environment.gov.au/epbc/;protect/marine.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[25]       DEWHA, Nuclear actions, www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/nuclear.html (accessed 27 January 2009).

[26]       Schedule 4, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008, Act No. 125, 2008.

[27]       There are a number of exceptions: actions taken in accordance with a bilateral agreement or accredited Commonwealth approval process, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 or a regional forest agreement; authorised by a government decision on advice from the minister; or exempted by the minister on the basis of national interest.

[28]       See Report on the provisions of the Environment & Heritage Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2006, Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee, 2006, pp 57–58.

[29]       ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 5.

[30]       ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 41.

[31]       ACF, Submission 52, p. 22

[32]       See IFAW, Submission 28;ACF, Submission 52, Lawyers for Forests Inc, Submission 68;NPAC, Submission 93; Government of South Australia, Submission 105.

[33]       NPAC, Submission 93, p. 36.

[34]       NPAC, Submission 93, p. 37.

[35]       NPAC, Submission 93, p. 37.

[36]       NPAC, Submission 93, p. 37.

[37]       Department of Defence, Submission 67, p. 10.

[38]       ACF, Submission 52, p. 23.

[39]       ACF, Submission 52, p. 24.

[40]       The Wilderness Society, Submission 51, p. 13.

[41]       ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 35.

[42]       Friends of the Earth Melbourne, Submission 48, p. 4.

[43]       WWF-Australia, Submission 81, p. 18.

[44]       IFAW, Submission 28, p. 6.

[45]       CCSA, Submission 89, p. 9.

[46]       Professor Lee Godden, Submission 92, p. 6; Planning Institute Australia, Submission 104.

[47]       Mr Andrew Walker, Lawyers for Forests Inc., Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 27. 

[48]       Mr Andrew Walker, Lawyers for Forests Inc., Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 30. 

[49]       Mr Shane Gilbert, Strategic Advisor, National Association of Forest Industries, Committee Hansard, 18 February 2009, p. 10. 

[50]       ANEDO, Submission 90, pp 38–39.

[51]       ACF, Submission 52, p. 25.

[52]       ACF, Submission 52, p. 25, and see ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 39.

[53]       DAFF, Submission 86, p. 4.

Chapter 3 - The environmental assessment and approval process

[1]        See Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_act/epopa1974481/ (accessed January 2009).

[2]        DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 16.

[3]        DEWHA, Submission 85, pp 17–18.

[4]        DEWHA, Correspondence to the committee, 9 February 2009. Note that, owing to the revision of this figure by the department, the four categories now add up to one more than the total of 2567 provided in the original submission.

[5]        DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 18.

[6]        DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 19.

[7]        DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 20.

[8]        DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 20.

[9]        DEWHA, Correspondence to the committee, 9 February 2009.

[10]      DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 20.

[11]      DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 22.

[12]      DEWHA, Correspondence to the committee, 9 February 2009.

[13]      DEWHA, Correspondence to the committee, 9 February 2009.

[14]      ANAO, Referrals, Assessment and Approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Performance Audit No. 38 of 2002–03, p. 99.

[15]      ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, p. 146.

[16]      ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, p. 142.

[17]      ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, p. 142.

[18]      ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, pp 142–3.

[19]      ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, p. 148.

[20]      2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee, Australia State of the Environment 2006, p. 99, http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/report/index.html, (accessed January 2009).

[21]      2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee, Australia State of the Environment 2006, p. 100, http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/report/index.html, (accessed January 2009); Chris McGrath, 'Swirls in the stream of Australian environmental law: Debate on the EPBC Act', Environmental and Planning Law Journal, Vol. 23, 2006, pp 170–173.

[22]      2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee, Australia State of the Environment 2006, p. 99, http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/report/index.html, (accessed January 2009).

[23]      MCA, Submission 30, p. 8; ACF, Submission 52, p. 8.

[24]      The Wilderness Society, Submission 51, p. 11.

[25]      Andrew Macintosh, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act: An Ongoing Failure, The Australia Institute, July 2006, p. 4. See also Andrew Macintosh and Deb Wilkinson, 'Evaluating the success or failure of the EPBC Act; A response to McGrath', Environmental and Planning Law Journal, Vol. 24, 2007, pp 81–89.

[26]      Wildlife Protection Association of Australia, Submission 27; Andrew Macintosh, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act: An Ongoing Failure, The Australia Institute, July 2006.

[27]      Mr Ben Fargher, CEO, National Farmers Federation, Proof Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 16.

[28]      Land & Environment Planning, Submission 18.

[29]      NCC(NSW), Submission 35, p. 5; ACF, Submission 52; HSI, Submission 58; Office of the Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force, Submission 67; ANEDO, Submission 90; Professor Lee Godden, Submission 92.

[30]      For example, Ms Vanessa Richardson, Submission 32.

[31]      BOCA, Submission 72, p. 3; Mr Ivan Jeray, Submission 79.

[32]      South Australian Government, Submission 105, p. 8.

[33]      MCA, Submission 30.

[34]      Correspondence from DEWHA, 14 November 2008, p. 4.

[35]      Correspondence from DEWHA, 14 November 2008, pp 4–5.

[36]      Chris McGrath, 'Swirls in the stream of Australian environmental law: Debate on the EPBC Act', Environmental and Planning Law Journal, Vol. 23, 2006, p. 169.

[37]      EPBC Act, s. 130(1B)(b)(i) – prior to the 2006 Act amendments, which modified this provision.

[38]      ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, p. 43.

[39]      DEWHA, Submission 85, pp 70–71.

[40]      DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 74.

[41]      Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Strategic Approvals and Legislation Branch, DEWHA, Proof Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 64.

[42]      Professor Lee Godden, Submission 92.

[43]      Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation & Research Association, Submission 46.

[44]      Mr Mark Flanigan, Assistant Secretary, Strategic Approvals and Legislation Branch, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 67.

[45]      E.g. Mr Steve Burgess & Ms Elaine Bradley, Submission 44; Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation & Research Association, Submission 46.

[46]      NCC(NSW), Submission 35, section 1.1.

[47]      Possum Centre Busselton, Submission 49, pp 3–4.

[48]      DEWHA, Submission 85, pp 25–26.

[49]      Gerard Early, 'Australia's National Environmental Legislation and Human/Wildlife Interactions', Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2008, p. 115.

[50]      Gerard Early, 'Australia's National Environmental Legislation and Human/Wildlife Interactions', Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2008, p. 127.

[51]      The committee notes that there are other cases where the department has taken a strategic approach in fulfilling its goals, such as in contributing to the Queensland government's planning exercise for Far North Queensland: DEWHA, Annual Report 2007–08, Volume 2, p. 17; Gerard Early, 'Australia's National Environmental Legislation and Human/Wildlife Interactions', Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2008, p. 127.

[52]      DEWHA, Annual Report 2007–08, Volume 2, pp 17, 107.

[53]      Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 72.

[54]      Eg. Professor Lee Godden, Proof Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 1.

[55]      Professor Lee Godden, Proof Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 3.

[56]      Ms Christine Goonrey, President, and Mr Tom Warne-Smith, Researcher, NPAC, Proof Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, pp 31–32.

[57]      Mr Charles Berger, ACF, Proof Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 10.

[58]      Mr Jeff Moore, Executive Member, CFA, Proof Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 41.

[59]      AFMA, Submission 59, pp 1–2.

[60]      HSI, Submission 58, pp 6–7; AFMA, Submission 59.

[61]      Compare, for example, Hastings Point Progress Association Inc v Tweed Shire Council and Anor; Hastings Point Progress Association Inc v Tweed Shire Council and Ors [2008] NSWLEC 180 (6 June 2008), http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/nsw/NSWLEC/2008/180.html (accessed January 2009) with Evans and Anor. v Maclean Shire Council and Anor. [2004] NSWLEC 512 (9 September 2004), http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/nsw/NSWLEC/2004/512.html (accessed January 2009).

[62]      EPBC Act, ss. 183, 188.

[63]      EPBC Act, ss. 270A-284.

[64]      DEWHA, Key threatening processes under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ktp.html (accessed February 2009), based on the EPBC Act, s. 188.

[65]      DEWHA, Listed key threatening processes, http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicgetkeythreats.pl (accessed February 2009).

[66]      The committee notes that, under s. 279 of the Act, the decision on whether to have a threat abatement plan for these two processes is currently under review.

[67]      HSI, Submission 58, pp 18–20; WWF-Australia, Submission 81, p. 3

[68]      EPBC Act, ss. 268, 269.

[69]      EPBC Act, s.139(1).

[70]      HSI, Submission 58, p. 12.

[71]      Invasive Species Council, Submission 55, p. 29; see also ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 30; South Australian Government, Submission 105, p. 15.

[72]      EPBC Act, s.267. IFAW, Submission 28, p. 3.

[73]      IFAW, Submission 28, p. 3.

[74]      CCSA, Submission 89, p. 11.

[75]      EPBC Act, s.207B(1)(c).

[76]      DEWHA, Register of critical habitat, http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicregisterofcriticalhabitat.pl (accessed February 2009).

[77]      EPBC Act, s.207C.

[78]      For example, EPBC Act, ss. 14 (World Heritage Areas), 17A (Ramsar wetlands), 249 (listing marine species).

[79]      EPBC Act, ss. 33–34F.

[80]      EPBC Act, ss. 136–140A.

[81]      EPBC Act, s. 194D.

[82]      EPBC Act, s. 324H.

[83]      EPBC Act, s. 194Q(1).

[84]      EPBC Act, s. 324JJ.

[85]      EPBC Act, s. 194Q(4).

[86]      EPBC Act, s. 324JJ(3).

[87]      EPBC Act, s. 207A.

[88]      EPBC Act, s. 270A.

[89]      EPBC Act, s. 269AA.

[90]      Aldgate Valley Landcare Group, Submission 4, p. 1.

[91]      EIANZ, Submission 14, p. 12.

[92]      IFAW, Submission 28, p. 3.

[93]      The Wilderness Society, Submission 51, p. 5.

[94]      Friends of the Earth Australia, Submission 48, pp 10–11.

[95]      Birds Australia, Submission 39.

[96]      DEWHA, Correspondence to the committee, 14 November 2008.

[97]      DEWHA, Correspondence to the committee, 14 November 2008.

[98]      Mr Tom Baxter, Submission 65, p. 8.

[99]      ACF, Submission 52, p. 29.

[100]    ACF, Submission 52, p. 31.

[101]    ACF, Submission 52, p. 29.

[102]    EPBC Act, s. 136(1).

Chapter 4 - Effectiveness of agreements

[1]        EPBC Act, s. 45. 

[2]        EPBC Act, s. 50. 

[3]        DEWHA, 2008, Bilateral agreements, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/bilateral/index.html (accessed 15 December 2008). 

[4]        DEWHA, 2008, Bilateral agreements, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/bilateral/index.html (accessed 15 December 2008). 

[5]        DEWHA, 2008, Bilateral agreements, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/bilateral/index.html (accessed 15 December 2008). 

[6]        Ms Melanie Stutsel, Director, Environment and Social Policy, Minerals Council of Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 4. 

[7]        Mr Steve Burgess and Ms Elaine Bradley, Submission 44, p. 4. 

[8]        Mr Ian Matthews, Submission 34, p. 2.

[9]        Central West Environment Council Inc of NSW, Submission 43, pp 3–4. 

[10]      Lawyers for Forests, Submission 68, pp 12–13.

[11]      Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales, An agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales, Under Section 45 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Relating to environmental impact assessment, 18 January 2007, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/bilateral/pubs/nsw-agreement-signed.pdf (accessed 17 February 2009). 

[12]      Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales, An agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales, Under Section 45 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Relating to environmental impact assessment, 18 January 2007, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/bilateral/pubs/nsw-agreement-signed.pdf (accessed 17 February 2009). 

[13]      Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), s. 75F.

[14]      Central West Environment Council Inc of NSW, Submission 43, p. 4; NSW Environmental Defender's Office, 18 October 2006.  Fact sheet, http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/factsh/fs02_1_2.php, (accessed 6 February 2009). 

[15]      Central West Environment Council Inc of NSW, Submission 43, p. 4. 

[16]      Central West Environment Council Inc of NSW, Submission 43, p. 4. 

[17]      Inland Rivers Network, Submission 69, section 6.

[18]      For examples, see NSW Environmental Defender's Office, 18 October 2006.  Fact sheet, http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/factsh/fs02_1_2.php, (accessed 6 February 2009). 

[19]      ANEDO (NSW), Submission to the NSW Premier Re: Environmental Planning and Assessment (Infrastructure and Other Planning Reform) Bill 2005, June 2005, http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/policy/epandarefrombill050713.php (accessed 17 February 2009)

[20]      ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 18.

[21]      NPAC, Submission 93, pp 13, 18; CCACT, Submission 94, pp 13, 18.

[22]      Mr Colin Trinder, Director, Environmental Impact Management, Department of Defence, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 56. 

[23]      Office of the Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force, Submission 67, p. 10. 

[24]      Office of the Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force, Submission 67, p. 5. 

[25]      CFA, Submission 57; AFMA, Submission 59. 

[26]      DAFF, Submission 86, p. 5. 

[27]      DAFF, Submission 86, p. 5. 

[28]      Mr Andrew McNee, Assistant Secretary, Marine Initiatives Branch, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 78. 

[29]      CFA, Submission 57, p. 6.

[30]      CFA, Submission 57, p. 6. 

Chapter 5 - Threatened species and ecological communities

[1]        DEWHA, answer to question on notice, 9 December 2008 (received 10 February 2009).

[2]        DEWHA, Species Profile and Threats Database, http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna#MAMMALS_CRITICALLY%20ENDANGERED, (accessed 10 March 2009).

[3]        Paul Sattler and Colin Creighton, Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment 2002, National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2002, chapter 4, http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/pubs/biodiversity/bio_assess_threat.html (accessed January 2009).

[4]        Paul Sattler and Colin Creighton, Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment 2002, National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2002, chapter 6, http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/pubs/biodiversity/bio_assess_mammals.html (accessed January 2009).

[5]        State of the Environment 2006, section 5.1, http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/report/biodiversity-1.html (accessed January 2009).

[6]        State of the Environment 2006, section 5.1, http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/report/biodiversity-1.html (accessed January 2009).

[7]        David Lindenmayer, On Borrowed Time: Australia's Environmental Crisis, Penguin Books & CSIRO Publishing, 2007.

[8]        EPBC Act, s. 178.

[9]        EPBC Act, s. 181.

[10]      EPBC Act, ss 194A and 194Q.

[11]      DEWHA, 2008, Threatened Species Nomination Form, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/pubs/nominations-form-species.doc (accessed 18 December 2008).

[12]      DEWHA, 2008, Listed threatened species and ecological communities, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/species-communities.html (accessed 5 January 2009).

[13]      DEWHA, 2008, What is protected under the EPBC Act? http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/index.html (accessed 5 January 2009).

[14]      WWF-Australia, 2008, Threatened Species Network, http://wwf.org.au/ourwork/species/tsn/ (accessed 6 January 2009).

[15]      Paul Sattler and Colin Creighton, Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment 2002, National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2002, chapter 10 case studies, http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/pubs/biodiversity/bio_assess_cumberland.html (accessed January 2009)

[16]      EPBC Act, s. 185 (repealed by Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2006).  

[17]      Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Approvals and Wildlife Division, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 64.

[18]      The Wilderness Society, Submission 51, p. 11.

[19]      ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 27.

[20]      EIANZ, Submission 14, p. 12.

[21]      EIANZ, Submission 14, p. 12.

[22]      EIANZ, Submission 14, p. 8.

[23]      HSI, Submission 58, pp 5–6.

[24]      ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 27.

[25]      HSI, Submission 58, p. 6.

[26]      ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 27.

[27]      IFAW, Submission 28, p. 3.

[28]      Birds Australia, Submission 39.

[29]      DEWHA, answer to question on notice, 9 December 2008 (received 10 February 2009).

[30]      DEWHA, answer to question on notice, 9 December 2008 (received 10 February 2009).

[31]      DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 2.

[32]      EPBC Act, s. 194G.

[33]      EPBC Act, s. 194N(4).

[34]      Dr S.A. Shepherd AO, Submission 1.

[35]      Aldgate Valley Landcare Group, Submission 4.

[36]      Mr Barry Hebbard, Submission 5; Mrs Mavis Rowlands, Submission 23; Mrs Mary C Clemons, Submission 37.

[37]      Ms Ann Jelinek, Submission 15; Dr. Ralph Ballard, Submission 24; Ms Melissa Gunner, Submission 33.

[38]      Mr Dave Milligan, Submission 20; Ms Carolyn Robins, Submission 40.

[39]      Ms Joanne Goossens, Submission 26.

[40]      Birds Australia, Submission 39.

[41]      Central West Environment Council, Submission 43.

[42]      The Wilderness Society, Submission 51, p. 12.

[43]      Possum Centre Busselton, Submission 49; Western Australian Forest Alliance, Submission 88.

[44]      Dr Chris James, Submission 10; Ms Vivienne Ortega, Submission 17; Mr Ian Matthews, Submission 34.

[45]      Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 66.

[46]      Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 72.

[47]      Other than 'conservation dependent' species.

[48]      DEWHA, 2008,  Recovery plans, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery.html (accessed 22 December 2008).

[49]      DEWHA, 2009, Recovery plans made or adopted - Common name order, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery-list-common.html (accessed 2 February 2009).

[50]      Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, answer to question on notice, 9 December 2008 (received 10 February 2009).

[51]      Mr Mark Flanigan, Assistant Secretary, Strategic Approvals and Legislation Branch, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 80.

[52]      Mr Mark Flanigan, Assistant Secretary, Strategic Approvals and Legislation Branch, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 80.

[53]      Mr Mark Flanigan, Assistant Secretary, Strategic Approvals and Legislation Branch, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 80.

[54]      EPBC Act, ss 33, 53, 139, 146K, 202 and 238.

[55]      Mr Mark Flanigan, Assistant Secretary, Strategic Approvals and Legislation Branch, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 81.

[56]      Ms Nicola Beynon, Senior Program Manager, Humane Society International, Committee Hansard, 10 December 2008, pp 19–20.

[57]      Mr Charles Berger, Director of Strategic Ideas, ACF, Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 13.

[58]      DEWHA, Draft Policy Statement: Use of environmental offsets under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, August 2007, p. 2.

[59]      DEWHA, Draft Policy Statement: Use of environmental offsets under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, August 2007, p. 3.

[60]      DEWHA, Draft Policy Statement: Use of environmental offsets under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, August 2007, p. 4, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/pubs/draft-environmental-offsets.pdf (accessed 23 January 2009).

[61]      See, eg, MCA, Submission 30.

[62]      Gerard Early, 'Australia's National Environmental Legislation and Human/Wildlife Interactions', Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2008, p. 141.

[63]      Central West Environment Council Inc. of NSW, Submission 43, p. 2.

[64]      As at 23 January 2009. DEWHA, Draft Policy Statement: Use of environmental offsets under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, August 2007, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/pubs/draft-environmental-offsets.pdf (accessed 23 January 2009).

[65]      DEWHA, Draft Policy Statement: Use of environmental offsets under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, August 2007, p. 5.

[66]      DEWHA, Use of Environmental Offsets Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Discussion Paper, August 2007, p. 5.

[67]      NPAC, Submission 93, p. 20.   

[68]      Mr Tom Warne-Smith, Researcher, National Parks Australia Council, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 34.

[69]      DEWHA, answer to question on notice, 9 December 2008 (received 10 February 2009).

[70]      DEWHA, answer to question on notice, 9 December 2008 (received 10 February 2009).

[71]      DEWHA, answer to question on notice, 9 December 2008 (received 10 February 2009).

[72]      Possum Centre Busselton Inc., Submission 49, p. 3.

[73]      National Farmers Federation, answer to question on notice, 16 January 2009, p. 4.

[74]      MCA, Submission 30, p. 13.

[75]      ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 20.

[76]      Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 8 December 2008, p. 83.

[77]      MCA, Submission 30.

[78]      DEWHA, Use of Environmental Offsets Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Discussion Paper, August 2007, p. 4.

Chapter 6 - Engaging stakeholders

[1]        Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Approvals and Wildlife Division, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 66.

[2]        Land & Environment Planning, Submission 18.

[3]        NPAC, Submission 93, p. 24.

[4]        EPBC Act, s. 43A; DEWHA, 2008, Prior authorisation and continuing use exemptions - Sections 43A and 43B, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/exemptions.html (accessed 25 February 2009). 

[5]        EPBC Act, s. 43B; DEWHA, 2008, Prior authorisation and continuing use exemptions - Sections 43A and 43B, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/exemptions.html (accessed 25 February 2009). 

[6]        DEWHA, 2008, Prior authorisation and continuing use exemptions - Sections 43A and 43B, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/exemptions.html (accessed 25 February 2009).

[7]        DEWHA, 2008, Prior authorisation and continuing use exemptions - Sections 43A and 43B, http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/exemptions.html (accessed 25 February 2009). 

[8]        NFF, Submission 87, p. 12. 

[9]        Ms Deborah Kerr, Natural Resource Manager, National Farmers Federation, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008,

[10]      ANAO, Referrals, Assessment and Approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Performance Audit No. 38 of 2002–03, p. 82.

[11]      NFF, Submission 87, p. 6. 

[12]      ANAO, Referrals, Assessment and Approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Performance Audit No. 38 of 2002–03, p. 82 (footnote).

[13]      NFF, Submission 87, p. 6. 

[14]      ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, p. 132.

[15]      ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, p. 134.

[16]      MCA, Submission 30, p. 15. 

[17]      Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Approvals and Wildlife Division,DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, p. 66. 

[18]      Mr Peter Burnett, First Assistant Secretary, Approvals and Wildlife Division, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 9 December 2008, pp. 66–67. 

[19]      EPBC Act, s. 170C.

[20]      Mr Michael Stokes, Submission 54, p. 6. 

[21]      Mr Michael Stokes, Submission 54, p. 6. 

[22]      Mr Michael Stokes, Submission 54, p. 7. 

[23]      Mr Michael Stokes, Senior Lecturer, Law School, University of Tasmania, Committee Hansard, 18 February 2009, p. 5. 

[24]      For example, see EPBC Act, ss 74(3) and 194M(3). 

[25]      Land & Environment Planning, Submission 18.

[26]      ACF, Submission 52, p. 35. 

[27]      Central West Environment Council, Submission 43.

[28]      BOCA, Submission 72.

[29]      BOCA, Submission 72.

[30]      See Land & Environment Planning, Submission 18 and Australian Conservation Foundation, Submission 52, p. 35. 

[31]      NPAC, Submission 93, p. 13.

[32]      EPBC Act, s. 91(2).

[33]      ANAO, Referrals, Assessment and Approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Performance Audit No. 38 of 2002–03, pp 83–84.

[34]      EPBC Act, s. 489. 

[35]      See Dr Chris McGrath, Submission 38, p. 2.

[36]      ACF, Submission 52, p. 33. 

[37]      Lawyers for Forests, Submission 68, p. 3. 

[38]      NPAC, Submission 93, pp 34–35. 

[39]      ANEDO, Submission 90, p. 16. 

[40]      EPBC Act, s. 478 (repealed by Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2006). 

[41]      Mr Jeff Smith, Director, Australian Network of Environmental Defenders' Offices, Committee Hansard, 10 December 2008, p. 27. 

[42]      Dr Chris McGrath, Committee Hansard, 10 December 2008, p. 50.

[43]      DEWHA, Submission 85, pp 78–79.

[44]      At the time of the 2006–07 Audit: ANAO, The Conservation and Protection of National Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, Performance Audit No. 31 of 2006–07, p. 142.

[45]      The Commonwealth Administrative Review Council is a statutory body established under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, and is tasked with monitoring the system of administrative review and to provide the government with recommendations for reform.

[46]      ARC, The Contracting Out of Government Services, Issues Paper, 1997.

[47]      ARC, The Contracting Out of Government Services, Report No 42, 1998, Chapter 2, p. 5.

[48]      ARC, 'Overview of the Commonwealth System of Administrative Review', http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/archome.nsf/Page/Overview_Overview_of_the_Commonwealth_System_of_Admin_Review (accessed 24 February 2009), paragraph 1.

[49]      ARC website, http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/archome.nsf/Page/Overview (accessed on 20 February 2009).

[50]      DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 79.

[51]      DEWHA, Annual Report 2007-2008, Vol. 2, pp. 67–69.

[52]      Buchanan J, Phosphate Resources Ltd v Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (No 2) [2008] FCA 1521, http://www.lexisnexis.com/au/legal/search/runRemoteLink.do?service=citation&langcountry=AU&risb=21_T5862629342&A=0.7143174628039017&linkInfo=F%23AU%23FCA%23year%252008%25page%251521%25sel1%252008%25&bct=A (accessed 26 February 2009).

[53]      Moore, Tamberlin and Lander JJ, Lansen v Minister for the Environment and Heritage [2008], FCAFC 189, http://www.lexisnexis.com/au/legal/auth/checkbrowser.do?ipcounter=1&cookieState=0&rand=0.43577769203106753&bhcp=1 (accessed 26 February 2009).

[54]      Briggs, John, 'Federal Court overturns Minister's decisions to refuse approval for expansion of mining operations on Christmas Island,' 1 December 2008, http://www.blakedawson.com/Templates/Publications/x_article_content_page.aspx?id=53701, (accessed 24 February 2009).

[55]      The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, 'McArthur River Mine Decision Remade with Extra Conditions', Press Release PG/216, 20 February 2009.

[56]      Andrew Walker, The EPBC Act: An Overview, Biodiversity Summit, September 2006, http://www.biodiversitysummit.org.au/walker.html (accessed 19 February 2009).

[57]      Administrative Review Council 'Overview of the Commonwealth System of Administrative Review', http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/archome.nsf/Page/Overview_Overview_of_the_Commonwealth_System_of_Admin_Review (accessed 20 February 2009).

[58]      DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 79.

[59]      DEWHA, Submission 85, p. 79.

[60]      Administrative Appeals Tribunal decisions can be found at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/aat/.

[61]      NPAC, Submission 93, p. 30.

[62]      Scrutiny of Bills Committee, Alert Digest No. 4 of 2006, p. 38, cited in Scrutiny of Bills Committee, Work of the Committee in the 41^st Parliament: Nov 2004 – Oct 2007, p. 62.

[63]      The Hon Ian Campbell, cited in Scrutiny of Bills Committee, Eleventh Report of 2006, p. 223.

[64]      Administrative Review Council, What Decisions should be Subject to Merit Review? AGPS, 1999, http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/arcHome.nsf/Page/Publications_Reports_Downloads_What_decisions_should_be_subject_to_merit_review (accessed January 2009).

[65]      Administrative Review Council, What Decisions should be Subject to Merit Review? AGPS, 1999, Chapter 2.

[66]      Part 7 of the Act deals with deciding whether approval of actions is needed. Part 8 of the Act deals with assessing the impacts of controlled actions.

[67]      Andrew Walker, The EPBC Act: An Overview, Biodiversity Summit, September 2006, http://www.biodiversitysummit.org.au/walker.html (accessed 19 February 2009).

[68]      Lawyers For Forests, Submission 68, p. 9.

[69]      NPAC, Submission 93, pp 30–31.

[70]      Dr Chris McGrath, Submission 38, p. 3.

[71]      The Wilderness Society, Submission 51, p. 10.

[72]      ACF, Submission 52, p. 33.

[73]      Chris McGrath, 'Flying Foxes, dams and whales: Using federal environmental laws in the public interest,' (2008), 25 EPLJ 324 – Submission 38 (Attachment 1), p. 354.

[74]      Buchanan J, Phosphate Resources Ltd v Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (No 2) [2008] FCA 1521, http://www.lexisnexis.com/au/legal/search/runRemoteLink.do?service=citation&langcountry=AU&risb=21_T5862629342&A=0.7143174628039017&linkInfo=F%23AU%23FCA%23year%252008%25page%251521%25sel1%252008%25&bct=A (accessed 26 February 2009), paragraph 58.

[75]      Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Introduction to the AAT, http://www.aat.gov.au/AboutTheAAT/IntroductionToTheAAT.htm (accessed 27 February 2009).

Coalition Senators' Additional Comments

[1]        National Parks Australia Council Inc, Submission 93, p. 36.

[2]        Mr Shane Gilbert, Strategic Advisor, National Association of Forest Industries, Committee Hansard, 18 February 2009, p. 10. 

[3]        Office of the Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force, Submission 67, p. 67.

[4]        Majority Report, paragraph 3.68

Additional Comments from the Australian Greens

[1]        UN CCBD www.cbd.int/2010-target/

[2]        Second Reading speech on the introduction of the EPBC Act 1995.

[3]        Australia State of the Environment report 2006.

[4]        Objects of the EPBC Act, Part 1 Chapter 1 Section 3(1)(a).

[5]        Submissions by HSI, ACF, WWF, TWS, WPAA, IFAW, ISCI EIANZ among others.
Also the combined environment groups submission to the EPBC Act review.

[6]        op.cit.

[7]        Dr Marg Blakers, Green Institute submission to the EPBC Act review, p 2.

[8]        Dr Marg Blakers, Green Institute submission to the EPBC Act review.

[9]        Estimated to have accounted for over 90 million tonnes of CO2-e in 2006, Blakers, M 2008, A framework for carbon accounting and emissions reductions, Green Institute.

[10]      Independent Review of the EPBC Act 1999, DEWHA. http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/review/index.html

[11]    Detailed discussion of trigger thresholds is contained in the HSI, WWF, TCT, ACNT 2005 submission to the Commonwealth Government.