John Watson (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Following the receipt of a satisfactory response, on behalf of the Regulations and Ordinances Committee, I give notice that at the giving of notices on the next day of sitting I shall withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for 10 sitting days after today for the disallowance of the Inclusion of species in the list of threatened species (Nos 42 to 45), made under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. I seek leave to incorporate in Hansard the committee’s correspondence concerning these instruments.

Leave granted.

The correspondence read as follows—

Inclusion of species in the list of threatened species (Nos 42 to 45) made under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

7 September 2006

Senator the Hon Ian Campbell

Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Suite MG.61

Parliament House

CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Minister

I refer to the following instruments made under subsection 184(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Inclusion of species in the list of threatened species under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (42)

Inclusion of species in the list of threatened species under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (43)

Inclusion of species in the list of threatened species under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (44)

Inclusion of species in the list of threatened species under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (45)

The information regarding consultation that is supplied in the Explanatory Statements to each of these four instruments notes that “parties with relevant expertise were directly consulted regarding their views”. It would assist in understanding the nature of the consultation process if the Explanatory Statements named these parties and also gave some indication of their responses to the changes that are made by these instruments. The Committee therefore seeks further information about the nature of the consultation undertaken with regard to these instruments.

The Committee would appreciate your advice on the above matter as soon as possible, but before 12 October 2006, to enable it to finalise its consideration of these instruments. Correspondence should be directed to the Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, Room SG49, Parliament House, Canberra.

Yours sincerely

John Watson

Chairman

24 October 2006

Senator John Watson

Chairman

Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances

Room SG49

Parliament House

CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Senator Watson

Thank you for your letter of 7 September 2006, regarding instruments made under section 184(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the explanatory statements accompanying the instruments.

In order to amend the EPBC Act’s lists of threatened species, ecological communities and key threatening processes, I must sign an instrument which is then registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments, and tabled in the Parliament with an accompanying explanatory statement.

You note in your letter that the explanatory statements advise that “parties with relevant expertise were directly consulted regarding their views”. You also requested information about the nature of the consultation undertaken with regard to the instruments.

As part of the process for assessing nominations to amend the lists of threatened species, ecological communities and key threatening processes, I must consider advice on the nomination provided to me by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee). In preparing its advice to me, the Committee routinely identifies and approaches people or organisations with relevant expertise – for example, on the biological characteristics of, or the threats impacting on, a species nominated for listing. The Committee asks specific questions of these experts in order to fill any information gaps that may exist in the nomination, to ensure that its advice to me is based on the most thorough and up-to-date knowledge available.

Additionally, my Department places each nomination on its website for a period of two months to allow for members of the public to submit comments on the proposed amendment to the list. Any relevant scientific information that is provided as part of this process is considered by the Committee when it prepares its advice to me.

To ensure the integrity of the scientific information provided by experts, all personal details are kept confidential.

Yours sincerely

Ian Campbell

Minister of Environment and Heritage