Chapter 1
IntroductionCommittee's Inquiry
Referral of the Bill
1.1 On 9 December 1998, the Selection of Bills Committee recommended to the Senate, and the Senate
agreed, that the Regional Forest Agreements Bill 1998 (the Bill) be referred to the Rural and Regional
Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for consideration and report by 15 February 1999. On 15
February 1999 the Senate agreed that the time for preparation and presentation of the Committee's
report be extended to 25 February 1999.
1.2 In its report to the Senate, the Selection of Bills Committee drew attention to the following issue for
the Committee's consideration:
Constitutional and environmental issues relating to the abrogation of Commonwealth
powers and responsibilities.
1.3 The Selection of Bills Committee, in its report to the Senate, recommended that the Committee seek
submissions or evidence from environment groups, EDOs and industry groups.
Conduct of the inquiry
1.4 The Committee advertised the reference of the Bill to it in capital city newspapers on 22 December
1998. In addition the Committee wrote directly to a large number of environment groups, EDOs, and
timber and forestry industry groups ranging from major processors to groups representing industry
interests.
1.5 The Committee had an overwhelming response to its advertisements, and invitations for submissions,
receiving 371 written submissions.
1.6 A list of those who made written submissions to the Committee's inquiry is at Appendix 1.
1.7 The Committee held three hearings on this Bill: two full days' hearing in Melbourne on 1 and 2
February 1999, and an evening hearing on a number of other issues relating to the Bill in Canberra on 16
February 1999.
1.8 A list of those who presented evidence to the Committee during the public hearing program is in
Appendix 2.
1.9 In addition to written submissions received by the Committee, the Committee requested and received
a comprehensive opinion prepared by the Office of General Counsel in the Attorney-General's
Department on a number of constitutional and related issues raised by the reference of the Bill, and other
matters affecting Regional Forest Agreements, prepared by Mr Gary Corr, Barrister at Law.
1.10 This opinion is referred to in the course of the report, and has been tabled with the report, along
with several other opinions that are referred to in Chapter 8.
1.11 The Committee also received a large number of supplementary submissions and other material from
witnesses, and particularly from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - Australia in
relation to specific matters raised during the Committee's hearings. A list of that supplementary material is
shown in Appendix 3.
Consideration of the Committee's report
1.12 The Committee met on 23 February 1999 to consider its report on the Bill.
Acknowledgments
1.13 The Committee acknowledges the great deal of effort and time that has been put into this inquiry by
all those who went to the trouble to prepared detailed written submissions on the Bill and on the RFA
process. The Committee acknowledges particularly that the issues surrounding the RFA process are of
continuing considerable interest to a large number of people and groups in the States participating in the
RFA process. It has attempted to deal with a number of issues raised in submissions, that may not be
directly relevant to the Bill, as a way of acknowledging and illustrating this interest and concern.
1.14 The Committee also thanks the witnesses who gave evidence at the Committee's hearings, often at
short notice, and the members of the community who attended the hearings.
1.15 The Committee also acknowledges the considerable assistance provided to it on the examination of
this Bill by the Bills Digest on the Bill prepared by the Parliamentary Library Information Research
Service.