Chapter 1 - Introduction
Terms of reference
1.1
On 7 December 2005, the Senate referred an inquiry into the funding and
resourcing of Australia's national parks, other conservation reserves and
marine protected areas to the Environment, Communications, Information
Technology and the Arts Reference Committee for report by 30 November 2006. On 18 October 2006 the Senate granted an extension of time to report until 28 February 2007. Two further extensions were later granted to the committee, to 29 March
2007, and then again to 12 April 2007. The committee thanks the Senate and
interested stakeholders for their cooperation with the committee as it has
completed this major inquiry.
1.2
The terms of reference were:
The funding and resources
available to meet the objectives of Australia’s national parks, other
conservation reserves and marine protected areas, with particular reference to:
- the values and objectives of Australia’s national parks, other
conservation reserves and marine protected areas;
- whether governments are providing sufficient resources to meet those
objectives and their management requirements;
- any threats to the objectives and management of our national parks,
other conservation reserves and marine protected areas;
- the responsibilities of governments with regard to the creation and
management of national parks, other conservation reserves and marine protected
areas, with particular reference to long-term plans; and
- the record of governments with regard to the creation and management of
national parks, other conservation reserves and marine protected areas.
Conduct of the inquiry
1.3
In accordance with its usual practice, the committee advertised details
of the inquiry in The Australian on 14 December 2005. The committee also made direct contact with a range of organisations and individuals to
invite submissions to the Inquiry. The committee received written submissions
from 221 individuals and organisations, as listed at Appendix 1. Additional
information received by the committee is listed at Appendix 3.
1.4
Public hearings of the committee were held in all States and
Territories, except Tasmania. Details of the 11 hearings, including a list of
witnesses who gave evidence, are shown at Appendix 2.
1.5
The committee took the view that its understanding of issues raised in
the course of the inquiry would be assisted by undertaking a program of site
visits in conjunction with its hearings program. The committee inspected a numbcr
of national parks, conservation reserves and marine parks, as listed in
Appendix 11. The program of site visits included a variety of reserve types in
different management jurisdictions, subject to a range of pressures – some that
were unique to particular parks, and others that were common to all. Each visit
offered an insight into the diversity of ecosystems represented in the reserve
system, their relationship with local communities, and their associated
management issues.
Figure 1.1 Committee members and staff during site
visits in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area
1.6
During the course of the inquiry, two witnesses raised concerns with the
committee about their treatment by their employer in relation to evidence given
to the committee. Senate privilege resolution 1(18) states:
Where a committee has any reason to believe that any person has
been improperly influenced in respect of evidence which may be given before the
committee, or has been subjected to or threatened with any penalty or injury in
respect of any evidence given, the committee shall take all reasonable steps to
ascertain the facts of the matter. Where the committee considers that the facts
disclose that a person may have been improperly influenced or subjected to or
threatened with penalty or injury in respect of evidence which may be or has
been given before the committee, the committee shall report the facts and its
conclusions to the Senate.
1.7
The committee regards such allegations as serious matters and, in
accordance with the Senate's privilege resolutions, sought to establish the
facts of the matter. It wrote to one of the witnesses seeking more detail, and
in both cases wrote to the two senior managers against whom allegations had
been made, seeking their account of the facts. Both managers wrote to the
committee responding to the claims made against them.
1.8
The committee is still considering the material made available to it,
and will report on the matter to the Senate as soon as it is able.
Terminology used in this report
1.9
There are many different types of land and sea tenure that are managed
for many different conservation purposes. This very diversity was itself a
topic of discussion by some witnesses. The committee's terms of reference ask
it to examine issues concerning 'Australia's national parks, other conservation
reserves and marine protected areas'. Throughout this report the committee
refers to these areas as the conservation estate or the reserve system.
Acknowledgements
1.10
The committee wishes to express its appreciation for the cooperation of
all who contributed to its inquiry, whether by making submissions, by personal
attendance at a hearing, or, as in many cases, by giving both written and oral evidence.
In particular, the committee thanks those who travelled significant distances
to attend its public hearingsc
1.11
The committee would like to note its gratitude to those park rangers and
other officers from Commonwealth, state and territory departments who assisted
the committee during site visits to national parks, conservation reserves and
marine protected areas throughout Australia. In particular, the committee would
like to acknowledge the assistance provided by Mr Peter Cochrane, Director of
National Parks; Ms Helen Halliday, Department of Environment and Heritage; Mr
Alan Feely, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service; Ms Josh Gibson, Wet Tropics
Management Authority; Mr Greg Leaman, South Australian Department for
Environment and Heritage; and Mr Jim Sharp, Western Australian Department of
Environment and Conservation.
1.12
The committee also thanks the many individuals and businesses involved
in management of Australia's conservation estate who spent time with the
committee during its visits to some of Australia's diverse and valuable natural
areas.
Figure 1.2 The
committee visiting Woodside's facility, Karratha, Western Australia
1.13
The committee would also like to acknowledge the work of the secretariat
for their organisation and support of such a large inquiry and for their work
in drafting the report. The Committee particularly thanks Dr Jacqueline Dewar
for her commitment while acting as secretary to the committee through much of
the inquiry.
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