Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697635458587.pdf (Australia)
Government of the Environment and Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage on the Inquiry into Catchment Management: Co-ordinating Catchment Management to Recommendations of,theJBtoiMe.of Representatives, StandMgtLCommittee andHeiitaeCo-ordinatin .fafMgl^feLf^^^gMM^^g^^^^ 1: recommends that the Commonwealth adopt a lead role in of; the development of principles?
priorities targets and programs for the sustainable use of Australia fs catchment systems; the appropriate legislative and institutional arrangements to sustainable use of 'Australia's catchment systems; and the community the funding necessary to ensure that the Australia fs catchment systems are addressed » « m The Australian Government has taken a lead role through initiatives based upon co- operation with and Territories (who are primarily responsible for natural resource under the Constitution).
The key Australian Government natural resource (NRM) programs - the Prime Minister's National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and extension of the Natural Heritage Trust - demonstrate the Australian Government's commitment to providing national leadership on NRM issues.

These initiatives support community-driven actions directed towards meeting agreed in catchments and regions.
They provide for an integrated approach, with investments in catchments/regions accompanied by key land and water policy reforms.

An accredited integrated natural resource management plan is required as the basis for governments providing funding to a region for plan implementation.

Relevant governments will accredit each plan based on its strategic context, proposed regional accountability, performance monitoring and reporting.
To ensure that integrated catchment/regional management plans contribute to the achievement of nationally agreed outcomes, catchment/region specific targets are required.

will be set for key resource issues, including land and water salinity, Regional water nutrient levels and turbidity, river health, vegetation cover and biodiversity, as well as for implementation of management actions.
Regional targets will help communities to set regional objectives for their on-ground activities, focus action on priority locations, and measure the success of efforts made through joint government and community investment The National Standards and Targets Framework, agreed to by the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Ministerial Council in May 2002, provides direction in the of regional targets (see response to Recommendation 5).

.

.
.

.

The NRM Ministerial Council was established by the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief to develop a coordinated approach to issues affecting the sustainability of Australia's land and water resources, replacing several existing Ministerial Councils that concerned with of salinity, water quality, biodiversity and other NRM and Strategic focus and decision-making are being coordinated through the NRM Ministerial Council-.
The Prime Minister has indicated that the Ministerial Council should be supported by independent expert advice.

The Ministerial Council is overseeing the design of the Trust extension, although implementation decisions rest with the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board.

Institutional reforms are also key components of both NRM programs.

The NAP Inter- Governmental Agreement and the Framework for the Natural Heritage Trust extension include specific provisions for land and water reform.
These institutional reforms are through bilateral agreements with the states for both the NAP and the Trust extension.
The Australian Government is also providing national leadership on the ecologically sustainable use of Australia's catchment systems through a range of other initiatives, including: m National Greenhouse Strategy « COAG Water Reform Framework and National Water Initiative 9 National Water Quality Management Strategy • National Principles for the Provision of Water for Ecosystems • National Framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia's Native Vegetation m Guidelines for Rangelands Management » National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Biodiversity m Regional Forest Agreements 88 Eco-effitieney and Cleaner Production strategies The National Water Initiative, agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments • (CoAG) in August 2003, -will establish new arrangements dedicated to the management of at a basin, aquifer or catchment scale to deliver agreed environmental outcomes.
The detail of the National Water Initiative is being developed and will be set out in an intergovernmental agreement for consideration at the first CoAG meeting in 2004.

- Australian Government environment legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997^ ecologically sustainable development through protection and conservation of the environment and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources.
Legislation is further in response to Recommendation 2.

The Australian Government has_ committed $1 billion to the extension of the Trust; this is and in addition to the $700 million commitment to the NAP.

Together, the two the biggest ever investment in protecting and enhancing Australia's environment and natural resources.
The current approach of the Australian Government is to also identify opportunities to leverage private sector investment in ' resource management, to complement publicly funded conservation and natural management actions.

Refer also to responses to Recommendations 3 & 26.
Page 2 of 27 2: the Government ask and resource the Australian Law to examine the feasibility of, and options for, a national body of with the ecologically sustainable use of land, and in particular, report on of, options for: Commonwealth laws; Territory laws; and The law to « * « integrating laws at all levels a so as to provide for the ecologically use of Australians The Australian Government has already reviewed and fundamentally reformed Australian Government environment legislation, focusing on matters of national environmental significance to promote ecologically sustainable development.
The concept was articulated in the COAG Heads of Agreement on Commonwealth/State Roles and Responsibilities for the Environment, which has been signed by all Governments.

Therefore, it is unnecessary to ask and resource the Australian Law Reform Commission ' to the feasibility of, and options for, a national body of law.

The COAG Heads of Agreement was a significant development in defining a national to environmental management.
It recognises that the Australian Government's involvement in environmental matters should- focus on matters of national environmental and describes what these matters are.

It also sets out a framework for the and approval processes relating to such matters.

of the The Australian Government has already-undertaken the task of consolidating Australian Government environmental laws into' the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

This Act has replaced six previous Acts.


The objects of the Act include promotion of ecologically sustainable use.

The Act provides for Australian Government leadership on the environment, while also recognising and the responsibility of the States and Territories for delivering on-ground natural An integrative approach to the ecologically sustainable use of Australia's catchment is also achieved through fora such as the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and the Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum.
The Australian Government is working with the Darling Basin through a whole-of-catchment management rather than a regulatory encourage sustainable use of resources within the Murray- to Much has achieved through a co-operative partnership approach between and communities involving on-ground as well as educational activities, with a focus on best management practices and planning.
Page 3 of 27 The Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement provides for the sustainable of the water and related natural resources within the major cross-border river in the Lake Eyre Basin to protect associated economic, social and environmental values.
The Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum is responsible for the development and/or adoption of policies and strategies for implementation of the Agreement to ensure the management of the major cross border river systems in the Lake Eyre Basin the Water Reform Framework was agreed in 1994, the States and Territories have considerable progress towards efficient and sustainable water management.
Jurisdictions are implementing new water allocation arrangements to provide .security for and protection for the environment.

However, the wide variation in progress regions and jurisdictions suggests that the foil benefits of reform are yet to be In August 2003, CoAG agreed to develop & National Water Initiative to further integrated across jurisdictions, to better define tradeable water access rights and to to manage environmental water.

5; The COAG am (NCMA).
This that the Government work towards an agreement through each jurisdiction to enact complementary legislation to authority, the National Catchment Management Authority should have a division corresponding to each of Australia's it should have the following powers and functions: m » « to local in the development of whole of catchment, regional and management plans; to co-ordinate the ecologically sustainable use of Australia fs catchment' to fund research on the ecologically sustainable use of Australia fs catchment « to of that research to the development of the ecologically use of Australia's catchment systems; m the dissemination of information access to skills, educational programs for the ecologically sustainable use of Australia fs m to the 8 with the of whole of catchment the and targets and territories ensure compliance with nationally whole of catchment plans for the use of Australia's catchment systems.
Page 4 of 27 The Australian Government supports, elements of this recommendation, however, the Australian Government believes a cooperative national approach for improving natural resource establishment of the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Ministerial Council, the - development of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the is preferable to new statutory authorities.
Through the of the Natural Heritage Trust, each of the elements of this recommendation are currently approach to salinity, land management, water quality, biodiversity and resource addressed.

These initiatives provide the basis for a national, cooperative solutions, particularly at the catchment/regional level, by engaging the Australian Government, States and Territories and the community.

Through the NRM Ministerial Council, the Australian Government and the States have set of criteria by.
which all Governments will consider and accredit developed an regional/catchment management plans as the basis for further government the identification and subsequent implementation of identified investment.

The accreditation criteria require plans to cover the full range of NRM issues in a region and regional priorities be based on a community process.

This approach shifts, the emphasis to outcomes, focused by community-driven regional natural resource management plans.

The on 17 April 2003.


NRM plan, for the Glenelg-Hopkins region in Victoria, was accredited first The NRM Ministerial Council approved a National NRM Monitoring and'Evaluation Framework in May 2002.

In conjunction with the National Standards and Targets Framework, this will ensure that common national standards and (where appropriate) indicators will be applied to the monitoring by each region of its catchment plan.

These frameworks are discussed further in response to Recommendations 5 and 6.
It is critical to develop processes that engage all regional natural resource managers and provide them with tools required for sound decision-making during the development and of integrated regional/catchment NRM plans.

Building capacity within catchments/regions, including the provision and application of technical and scientific knowledge and expertise, and development of landholder and community skills, is a key of the NAP' and the Trust extension.
In to fimding through its NRM programs, the Australian Government also funds on the ecologically sustainable use of Australia's catchment systems through the Commonwealth Scientific and Industry Research Organisation (CSIRO), Cooperative Centres (CRCs), and statutory Research and Development Corporations (RDCs).

These organisations closely align their research and development programs with industry, community and government natural resource policy and management needs.
There is a strong emphasis on collaborative and interdisciplinary research, efforts for efficiency and effectiveness.

The CSIRO, particularly through its Land & Water and Sustainable Ecosystems Divisions, provides national research leadership on issues relating to catchment delivering specialist scientific information on'major land, water and CRCs, including for the sustainable long term management of Australia's landscape.
for Freshwater Ecology, Catchment Hydrology and Sustainable Page 5 of 27 Production Forestry, contribute long-torn scientific and technological research and innovation to the ecologically sustainable use of catchment systems.
RDCs, as Land & Water Australia and the Rural Industries RDC fund research and on sustainable natural resource management and ecologically sustainable production systems, providing technical, biophysical, socio-economic and institutional information, and education, extension and training programs.
4: The that: « if the report of the Australian Law Reform Commission referred to in 3 (sic) reports that it is feasible far the Commonwealth to enact a single piece of legislation; » 8 if agreement can be reached through COAGfor such legislation; and legislation be enacted to apply to all aspects of the ecologically use of Australia*® catchment systems that are within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth* to Recommendation 2.

5."
5."

The Committee recommends that, in consultation with stakeholders, national management principles be developed and enacted in comprehensive, management legislation.

The Committee further recommends that: " • these principles should be enacted no later than the end of 2002; and in Australia that have an effect upon the use of catchment no than 2005, be assessed against these principles by 2007, if necessary f to ensure that they comply with them.
The Australian Government believes a cooperative national approach to catchment is preferable to legislation.

Elements of this approach are outlined in response to Recommendation 3.

The National Standards and Targets Framework adopted by the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Ministerial Council specifies a set of national outcomes that are aspirational about desired national natural resource outcomes.
These outcomes Page 6 of 27 the objectives of both the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust The national outcomes provide direction for catchment/regional communities to identify specific time-bound and measurable for the national outcomes.
• region, which will move natural resource condition towards the achievement of bodies are using national guidelines to assist them to set targets which are relevant to their regional circumstances, against a specified minimum set of issues.

This will a nationally consistent approach, which also takes into account the variation between regions, and can recognise existing and agreed approaches to resource management and target setting.
on salinity, water quality and associated water flows were agreed to by National the NRM Ministerial Council in May 2002, with further national standards for biodiversity and related issues approved in October 2002.

These have been amalgamated with the previously approved outcomes to form the Revised National Outcomes and Minimum Set of Regional Targets.

These national standards will define desired national resource condition outcomes that can vary between different biogeographical regions/catchments.
They will guide regions in setting measurable and realistic outcome targets for best practice management of natural resources.

This will be a significant towards the achievement of resource condition outcomes.
Development and enhancement of the Framework will continue to build on existing initiatives, principles and guidelines on catchment management including the Murray-Darling Basin Commission's Integrated Catchment Management and Basin Salinity Management Strategies, the National Water Quality Management Strategy, the National Principles for the Provision of Water for the Environment, the National Objectives_and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation 2001-2005, and the National Collaborative Project on Indicators for Sustainable Agriculture.- Tlirough the Council of Australian Governments National Water Initiative, a national to the management of water for the environment is being developed.
Principles for institutional arrangements to manage environmental water to achieve agreed environmental outcomes necessarily need to be accommodating of the wide variation in circumstances and issues, and adaptable to different scales of application.

6: that: » the Government work through CO A G to set targets f&r the ecologicmlly of Australians catchment systems under the national catchment .
« • as soon as possible; be mandatory, reviewable disallowable instruments; be upon partner organisations accepting and aiming for Page 7 of 27 the Government, in conjunction with the of current the of that data when territories, conduct a stock national The Australian Government has already, with the States and Territories, adopted a nationally consistent approach to target setting in Australian catchments.

.

.
.

.

The Australian, State and Territory Governments, through the Natural Resource (NRM) Ministerial Council, agreed to adopt a common framework for national standards and targets.

The Revised National Outcomes and Minimum Set of Regional Targets were approved in October 2002 (see response to 5).

These are being applied to the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the extension of the Natural Heritage Trust.
CoAG endorsed the NAP, including the key element of setting targets, in November 2000. and Targets Framework is linked to the National Monitoring and " The Evaluation Framework, also approved by the NRM Ministerial Council in May 2002.

This will the and monitoring of regionally delivered initiatives.
The National the agreed targets for each catchment plan form the primary basis for and Evaluation Framework also ensures that both the national strategy and- will be fully evaluated at appropriate times to meet the requirements of accountability and adaptive management.

The accreditation guidelines for regional conformity with both these frameworks.

Accredited plans will form the for investment in regions under the NAP and the extension of the NHT.
The Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) was introduced by the and Territory Governments in 1992 as a response to growing community the condition of the nation's water bodies and the need to manage them in an environmentally sustainable way (for further details see http://www.affa.gQV..au).

In.

1994, the NWQMS was included in the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Water Framework.
'The process for water quality management uses the concept of values, established in partnership with the community and government, to quality targets.

This provides a consistent approach to goals, and standards.

The Water Quality Targets Online-and accompanying have been developed to assist regional groups to set water quality targets.

They at regional groups developing water quality targets for inclusion in in accordance with the'NAP and the extension of the Trust.
set are The National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation 2001-2005 establish, outcomes that the Australian Government, States and Territories will pursue ten 2001 and 2005.

The priority actions are to: restore native vegetation and terrestrial ecosystems; 1.

2. and restore freshwater ecosystems; 3. protect and restore marine and estuarine ecosystems; 4. control invasive species; dryland salinity; 5.
6. promote ecologically sustainable grazing; 7. minimise impacts of climate change on biodiversity; Page 3 of 27 and record indigenous peoples' ethnobiological knowledge; 8.

9. improve scientific knowledge and access to information; and 10. introduce institutional reform.

These priority outcomes, objectives and targets complement the NAP; the National for Management and Monitoring of Australia's Native Vegetation; the Strategy; and the COAG water reforms.
With to the protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems, GoAG has the National Water Initiative will establish new' arrangements dedicated to the of water at a basin, aquifer or catchment scale to deliver agreed • outcomes.

Government, States and Territories continue to support, as a public good, of data for the setting, evaluation and review of targets.

Such data are regularly reviewed and revised in the light of technological outcomes.

See also response to Recommendation 10.

7."


that the Government amd resource the ALRC to report in a cost effective and speedy manner cross-jurisdictional • The the The on RESPONSE; The Australian Government is aware of the need for effective mechanisms to deal with cross-jurisdictional issues.

Adequate dispute resolution mechanisms are already in place through the Murray Darling Basin '(MDB) Ministerial Council and the Lake for (LEB) Ministerial Forum.
Both provide for formal community participation Eyre intergovernmental discussion of issues.

The Australian Government has also encouraged the joint management of cross border through participation in, and support of, the Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council.

While using a different model to the MDB and LEB joint management it also provides a forum for discussion of cross-jurisdictional issues amongst industry, community and government stakeholders.
Under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the extension of the Heritage Trust, the holistic management of cross border issues is promoted in priority regions that encompass more than one jurisdiction.
This includes regions as the Condamine-Balonne-Maranoa, Border Rivers, Lower Murray and Ord The Rivers Agreement and the Paroo River Intergovernmental Agreement in New South Wales and Queensland are further examples of governments putting mechanism to deal with cross-jurisdictional issues.
an Page 9 of 27 Ultimately, the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) and the NRM Ministerial Council provide opportunities to bring together jurisdictions to discuss and resolve eross- jurisdictional environmental issues of national significance.
8: The ' the the National Land and Water Resources Audit be as an ongoing independent statutory Commonwealth authority Environment Audit Office, with the; « » to collect relevant data Australia^ catchment systems; and maintain an ongoing audit of the of of educating the community on the meed for, and effective to the ecologically sustainable use of Australia's catchment systems* The Australian Government supports the continuation of the National Land and Water Audit (the Audit) and its functions.
The Natural Heritage'MMsterial Board on 7 March 2002 that the Audit would continue as part of the Natural Heritage Trust extension.

A core role of the Audit will be collate data and information as a basis for reporting on the natural resource management indicators (resource condition, social and economic) being developed through the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council.
Indicators will provide an assessment of the condition of Australia's catchment systems and are being developed to be consistent with the broader set of indicators used for national of the Environment Reporting.

Indicators will build on the earlier undertaken by the Audit.

New governance arrangements have been-established that will further Audit's reporting roles.

These measures will ensure that the Audit maintains the strong the focus connections with its client base.
The Audit will foster coordination and continue to' build a cooperative State, Territory and Australian Government partnership.

The Audit will support existing institutional data coordination as endorsed by the Australian Government's Office of Spatial Data and ANZLIC - the Spatial Information Council.

These linkages are crucial for the Audit to maintain the world's most comprehensive natural resource information is used to help monitor and assess Australia's natural resource base.
Products from the Audit will continue to be available over the Internet free-of-charge through the Australian Natural Resources Atlas and Data Library..
Page 10 of 27 9: ' The Committee further recommends that the NLWRA should be provided with to it to complete within the next five years a comprehensive of Australia's it to and programs an ongoing audit of Australia fs catchment sufficient ongoing funding thereafter to the • use of Australia's ta ensure the ecologically The the recommends that funding for the Audit should not come from Trust or from sales but from general taxation revenues any products of the Audit should be available free of charge.
to Recommendation 8.

The Natural Heritage Ministerial Board announced on 7 March 2002 that the National Land and Water Resources Audit (the Audit) would continue as part of the Natural Trust extension.

The Trust is the Australian Government's most important environmental program.

Since its inception in 1996-97, the Trust has been funded from proceeds from the partial sale of Telstra.
In 2001, the Australian Government announced it would extend the Trust, committing an additional $1 billion over five years.

That is from consolidated revenue.
10: The the Government enter into negotiations with all territory governments to establish clear protocols for the exchange of information and that: the ecologically sustainable use of Australia fs catchment * m « to the territories be dependent, impart, upon entering into sharing protocols; be collected and maintained on a national basis, in a by the NLR WA; .and be freely, publicly available through catchment area over the Internet The Australia New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC -the Spatial Information Council) has developed a model data access and management agreement for use in projects as the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural of all Trust.
The model agreement establishes clear protocols for the information, which accord with nationally agreed standards under Page 11 of 27 the Australian Spatial Data Infrastructure.

Funding from the Australian Government will be in part, upon use of the agreement.

The National Land and Water Resources Audit (the Audit) has developed the Australian Atlas and the Australian Natural Resources Library to provide over the Internet to natural resources information.
Following recommendations the Audit in its Australian Natural Resources Information 2002 report, the of Environment and Heritage maintains the Australian Natural Resources Atlas and the Bureau of Rural Sciences maintains the Australian Natural Resources Library.

These arrangements help to ensure that catchment managers have access to the up to integrated environmental, .natural resource, social and economic for catchment management.
11: The the Government develops and an use of Australia r$ catchment systems.

appropriate on ground activities, on the ecologically The Australian Government is already promoting environmental education through the Action Plan for Environmental Education.

The Environment and Heritage and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Portfolios provide national leadership in raising the of major environmental and natural resource management challenges and solutions.
Education is an essential activity of both Portfolios.

the of the National Action Plan for Environmental Education in July 2000, the following have been established: « The National Environmental Education Council; and « The Australian Government, State'and Territory intergovernmental environmental education network.
The National Environmental Education Council was established in July 2000 and in its it identified formal education, industry and the general community as the priority The Council is currently investigating the most effective ways to in sectors.

The Council has initiated a mapping project to identify where environmental education in State and Territory school curricula.
As an initiative directed at both education and industry, the Council has also implemented a series of "summits' at promoting greater integration of environmental education into mainstream curricula.

A review of industry attitudes and performance in relation to the has also been initiated.

The National Environmental Education Network was established in 2001 to promote effective Australian Government, State and Territory inter-governmental coordination Page 12 of 27 delivery of environmental education.
The Network has investigated a number of areas cooperation and the sharing of resources would be appropriate and is currently a pilot of a school-based environmental education program called Sustainable Schools.

Funding at the State -and Australian Government level has been provided to conduct a pilot of the program in New South Wales and Victoria over an 18-month period commencing in January 2003.
The program implements efficiencies in a school's of resources such as energy, waste, water and biodiversity and integrates this into the curriculum and daily running of the school.

The incorporation and involvement of the school's local community is a critical element of the program.
The eventual aim of the trials is the adoption of the program by other States and Territories, " • Another major initiatve of the National Action Plan is the establishment of an Australian Environmental Education Foundation - a national body that will act as a focal point for environmental education research in Australia.

Proposals from bodies interested in and managing the Foundation have been invited.
The National Action Plan for Environmental Education also identifies the need for greater to quality materials, including an enhanced web site, professional development for in the formal education sector and resources for community organisations in environmental education.
The Department of Environment and Heritage's Environmental Education Unit is already pursuing these activities through projects involving various line-areas and partnerships outside the Department, as well as through the work of the Council.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Portfolio is involved in delivering a number of initiatives and the sustainability of Australia's land and water resources, fisheries through the Natural Heritage Trust.
In particular, the National Landcare funds activities that have been most successful in building knowledge and to understanding, awareness of environmental problems and empowering individuals groups to act.
The Department of Environment and Heritage, through Waterwatch, a national community water-monitoring initiative, is encouraging all Australians to become be active in the protection and management of their waterways and involved Local, regional and State-based facilitators in each State and Territory have to monitoring programs.
communities with the running of a variety of local The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of the Environment and Heritage have developed a Natural Resource Management Capacity Strategy (the Strategy) for guiding investment activities under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and extension of the Natural Heritage Trust, The » (NRM) four components: of the community in relation to natural resource management Page 13 of 27 » Information including biophysical, social and economic and data and science to NRM and users with planning and decision-making.
• » Skills and training to ensure managers and users can participate effectively in NRM planning and management, particularly regional planning.

« Facilitation and support to ensure the community and NRM are provided with technical expertise and support to enable engagement and effective implementation of on-ground actions.
The many delivery approach embodied in the NAP and the Trust extension means of the Strategy are most appropriately delivered at regional or level, A of possible actions have nevertheless -been identified in the Strategy that are delivered at the national level.
These include: « The establishment of an NRM training task force to co-ordinate and guide the initial implementation of the Strategy, particularly the skills development, awareness-raising elements; » Skills of key to • determine the range of training .and development stakeholders, such as integrated planning, team building, technical and people skills.

'A National Action Plan consultancy for a 'skills needs' for stakeholders involved in the regional integrated NRM planning is currently underway.
• The identification, modification, application and marketing of existing courses and training packages and modules.
• The development of additional training materials targeted to client groups including indigenous communities; » The provision of training and support to government agencies, and those working with indigenous communities to improve understanding of the special and of indigenous communities in relation to NRM* « The accreditation of training materials, and the development of nationally and transferable competency standards.
distribution of awareness-raising material on NRM issues is' identified as in the Strategy, This element is being addressed through NAP and Trust communications strategies. '

The NRM Strategy is being used as the basis for discussions with State/Territory in relation to the NAP and Trust extension.

The detail of its implementation on the outcomes of such negotiations.
12: The the catchment management authorities (CMAs) and that these authorities form the government work through COAG to in of each catchment and, overall, of the authority* Page 14 of 27 • As of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP), signed by the Australian Government and all States and Territories, the Australian Government has signed bilateral agreements with the States and Territories for Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory).
The bilateral outline a timetable for the establishment of a single catchment or regional body in as many priority regions as is practicable.
Under the terms of the bilateral regional bodies will have: « a suitable level of authority to develop and implement catchment/regional plans; «, transparency and -equity in decision making, and effective mechanisms for participation by all relevant stakeholder groups; technical ability and capacity for the development and implementation of catchment/regional plans or the ability to co-opt this ability and capacity; the ability to work effectively in the delivery of cross-border plans; ' arrangements for administration, financial management and accountability for implementing the catchment/regional plan and delivering • outcomes; and to work with local government and other agencies to ensure the integrity of the catchment/regional plans and government investments.
« m « « The structure, roles Territory are also and relevant or Territory.

functions of the catchment/regional bodies within each State or in bilateral agreements between the Australian Government to The Natural Resource Management (NRM)' Ministerial Council agreed to extend these to the Trust, so that similar regional of catchment bodies will need to be outside the NAP priority regions if access to NHT funds is sought.

in For the delivery of the Trust extension.


State and Territory jurisdictions are currently bilateral with the Australian Government that will include and accountabilities for regional delivery, including the role of local government-in coastal and other catchments.

To date, bilateral agreements under the Trust is to with WA9 Vic, SA, Tasmania, NT and the ACT.

A bilateral with NSW finalisation, and a bilateral is under negotiation with Qld.
An interim financial is currently being finalised with Qld for $16 million over 2002/03 and 2003/04 the bilateral is finalised.

13: use of a f®&om or system, be accredited by the proposed NCMA (or CMA)> or its equivalent, that funding be provided only to accredited att.programs that affect the ecologically Page 15 of 27 The Australian Government supports the concept of accreditation as the basis for in catchments or regions.
Under the regional delivery arrangements of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and extension of the Natural Trust, governments are accrediting integrated natural resource management plans the accreditation criteria approved by the Natural Resource (NRM) Ministerial Council.

The first regional .NRM plan, for Glenelg- (Vic) was accredited on 17 April 2003.

Further Vic, NSW and SA plans are forward for accreditation.
The accreditation criteria are contained in the bilateral and guidelines for the implementation of the accreditation criteria have been multilaterally negotiated and are publicly available.

Governments will have a-single process for each catchment/regional plan, assessed'for its strategic content, proposed targets, accountability, and performance monitoring and reporting.
Accreditation will be the trigger for governments to provide folding to the regions to the appropriate investment strategies to support the Plan.

See also responses to Recommendations 3, 5 and 6.

Through the bilateral agreements, governments have sought to ensure that Australian obligations, land and water management policies and coastal and marine (relevant to coastal and marine resource management), help to achieve natural outcomes.
14: ' • The be, ms practicable, aligned with the natural within catchment that when local government boundaries are they - While environmental issues are a major focus of local government's concern, local boundaries should primarily reflect the economic and social structure of their Successful natural resource management (NRM) reform requires extensive of local stakeholders.
Such stakeholders are more likely to get involved in when the boundaries that determine their participant constituency accord and community boundaries.

For example, local landholders are more likely to NRM get involved in those Landcare groups' that include the people they work and socialise of whether those people live in the same catchment.
with, Boundary reforms of this nature would need to be supported by respective State/Territory in which the statutory powers with regards to local government "are vested.

The Australian Government is actively encouraging local governments to work collectively and to engage with regional bodies to identify issues and opportunities for to jointly NRM issues.
Where formalised arrangements are in place local government and regional bodies there has been successful implementation projects funded under the Natural Heritage Trust.

16 of 27 There are for the obvious benefits of having a nested, hierarchical boundary arrangement with natural resource management (NRM), particularly where it can lead to in partnerships, governance and capacity building in relation to NRM.
Under of the Natural Heritage Trust, boundaries for more than sixty regions have with States (negotiations with Queensland are near completion), based on or bioregions and coinciding with NAP regions where possible.
Existing are being used where possible and appropriate The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed to support include » " local government representation on regional bodies; local government involvement in the development of integrated m regional plans; and of regional objectives in local planning.
resource • 15; The Committee further recommends that the Government work through COAG to governments that they will enact such legislation as is' local governments to exercise such powers as they possess in ways with the national principles and targets for the ecologically are to use of Australians catchment systems.
and targets for natural .resource management are being addressed in the of regional Integrated Natural Resource Management plans under for the delivery of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality of the Natural Heritage Trust.

These plans will be accredited by the (NAP) and Australian'Government and respective State Governments and will form the basis for the NAP and the extension of the Trust.
Some states, for example, Victoria, require local government instruments such as local planning development consent schemes, to take account of regional targets and Under delivery of natural resource management outcomes at the regional level, in particular for The Australian Government is encouraging States to amend institutional the role of local government is being considered in the to be consistent with, and complement regional targets and priorities.

.
.

In to be accredited, regional plans need to demonstrate that local governments are in the development and implementation of plans.

.

If require local government to further implement, monitor and regulate environmental initiatives, state governments should provide appropriate funding to enable to meet their added responsibilities.
Page 17 of 27 16; The • m '» ' * be given to 'partner organisations'; criteria far as a partner be as a organisation be renewable and to « all with partner organisations between partner organisations or clients, be tabled within three months of signature if the the expenditure of public monies.
have been signed between most States and Territories and the Australian Government for the implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP), and for the implementation of the Natural Heritage Trust extension.

These establish a framework for the development of partnership agreements with regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies.
The and will identify: will be-based on a framework to be developed by the « « B the accredited NRM plan; the roles and responsibilities of the Parties, regional NRM body/ies and other contributors; the respective investment amounts and the cost sharing arrangements for salinity •' water quality action; » « a clearly structured basis for resolution of critical NRM conflicts that may hinder outcomes to be achieved; towards achieving the National Action Plan's objectives; financial, » performance » • » accountability and reporting mechanisms; « and milestones; and administrative arrangements, as necessary; the obligation to report to the Parties in a timely manner on any that may significantly impact on the commitments made under the Partnership agreement; » • compliance measures, sanctions and penalties.
17; The use of a all programs affect the ecologically region or system, be accredited by the proposed NCMA (or CMA),.

or its that funding be provided only to accredited 18 of 27 to recommendation 13.

18: oft that the Government develop a program to foster the to, the Internet for rural Australians and the development databases pertaining to the ecologically sustainable use of Australia's be accessed over the 'Internet This is supported.
The Australian Government recognises the need to assist and stimulate regional, rural and communities* use of the Internet since 1997.

A range of activities has been, and to be, implemented to address Internet access for all Australians (key initiatives below).

In regional Australia, where telecommunications competition is are limited, the Australian Government has particularly sought to provide appropriate with the uptake, use, reliability and cost of the Internet.
The Networking the Nation program (which had a heavy priority on public Internet provision of un-timed Internet access for everyone), Rural Transaction Centres (which may provide public Internet access), and the Regional Solutions Program are all over the last several years of the Australian Government's commitment to assist all Australians gain access to, and participate in, the online world.
This commitment goes to the early 1990s when the Department of Primary Industries and Energy allocated funding for a telecentre' program, providing the first steps towards rural access.

On 8 November 2002, the Australian Government released Connecting Regional Australia, the report of the independent Regional Telecommunications .Inquiry.
The the importance of equitable access to the Internet for regional In particular, it indicates that the norm for Internet access in Hie future will be via a rather than dial-up.

Notwithstanding this, the report also recommended condition be imposed on Telstra to guarantee a minimum equivalent dial up of 19.2kbps to the Internet In.

addition, the report highlights, the importance of the Assistance Programme (IAP).

LAP one Telecommunications Service Inquiry in 2000.
IAP assists of the action plan response by the Australian Government to the to the of their Internet connection.

of the action plan included the $52.2 million National Communications Fund.

Projects under the National Communications Fund are required to, possible, pass on the benefits of increased bandwidth to the broader Page 19 of 27 2001, the Australian Government awarded a $150 million tender to Telstra to In provide un-timed local calls and Internet access in the extended call zones.
This contract an offer for people in the extended zone to connect to the Internet via a two-way connection (with satellite equipment being provided free during initial roll out).

These Australian Government initiatives improve options for Internet access, particularly for in rural and remote areas.

Telecommunications carriers are also starting to provide very attractive packages to all intervention and market pressure, affordably priced Internet of Australia.
Thus, through a combination of of reasonable quality may soon be available for all.

• The Natural Resources Atlas and Data Library, developed by National Land and Water Resources Audit (the Audit) and funded through the Natural Heritage Trust, provide a gateway to information about Australia's catchment systems.

The Atlas and Library are amongst the most comprehensive natural resource information systems in the world.
The Atlas links to the best-available information available on the Internet Australian Government, State and Territory agencies.

Following recommendations from the Audit in its Australian Natural Resources Information 2002 report, the Department of Environment and Heritage, through the Resources Information Network (ERIN), in collaboration with the Audit, will coordinate future development of the Atlas.
The Atlas will continue to provide the • community with links to the most up-to-date information maintained by other agencies.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will coordinate future development of the Data Library.
The concept of developing an online is an issue best by the 19: recommends that the Government the operation of the to include, but not be limited to: • » « a ready^access to information expertise on the ecologically use of Australia's catchment systems, and access to education and services; as a shopfrontfor regional authority offices; officers and program co~ .

Page 20 of 27 .

Government reviewed the Rural Transaction Centres (RTCs) Programme The in October 2000.
The review extended the scope of services available as well as the eligibility for the Programme.

should be provided in RTCs.

As the RTCs Programme is community-driven, it is up to communities to determine which RTCs are Individual to demonstrate sustainability through a Business Planning process.

are thus responsible for ensuring that income derived from is sufficient to cover their operational costs.

This information is communities determine which services will be offered when setting up their RTC.
RTCs may be able to-assist as a shop-front and in the provision of a base for catchment officers and program coordinators.

However, assistance such as provision and room rental should be provided on a fee for service basis, so as to provide an income for RTCs .
20; The that the Government* in co-operation with the » m « a network of local people who cam act as'local management extension officers who will advocate for the of Australia fs catchment training to these people; with the will be to facilitate the development and implementation of local the re-establishment of a system of extension officers The Government the importance of facilitators and coordinators in and this recommendation.
Under the Natural Heritage Trust, the Australian Government has funded full time and project officers, coordinators and facilitators assisting and building the capacity of the to get involved in environmental and natural resource management The role of regional facilitators and coordinators with a regionally focused investment of the Trust extension is responding to the opportunity to enhance the strategic and an outcome-driven approach.
This will ensure that regional facilitators and coordinators have a role that is clearly defined as an integral part of regional strategies, and which is directly related to the achievement of regional targets.

Under the first stage Page 21 of 27 of transitional coordinator positions were funded to assist communities develop regional for the extension of the Trust, some 600 facilitator and to them.
The Australian Government is focusing-on larger, more strategically targeted, regional This policy is reflected in the block funding of regional strategies under the NAP and the first phase of the Trust, For community facilitators and coordinators, this a natural evolution of the models delivered under the Decade of Landcare.

With the new emphasis of the Trust on regional-scale challenges, investments are being at achieving priority outcomes identified in regional or catchment plans.
In addition to local level facilitators and coordinators funded through regional processes, the Australian Government is pursuing opportunities in each State and Territory to provide a core set of support positions at the State-wide and strategic regional levels.
Community and governments are collectively determining the level of investment in services, including facilitators and coordinators, needed to achieve these priority Trust funds will be used for on-ground works to meet targets, support services and other activities, and regions will need to make important decisions to achieve an appropriate mix.

Facilitators and coordinators are critical to this process.
Through the Natural Resource Management Capacity Building Strategy, facilitators and coordinators the specific skills and training needed to facilitate the shift to a strategic regional framework.

The Australian Government seeks to enhance natural resource management outcomes in both agriculture and environmental, management.

The Australian Government is thus committed to the new directions of the Trust and to the work needed to refocus its strategy.
The basis of successful regional-level activity is engaging effective in the community - between government (Australian Government, State and Local), industry and individuals.

21.

* The that funding be open, understandable and any allocations under a system be reported in the of the administers the funds.

TMs recommendation is supported.


The Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth) and the Commonwealth •Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth) require Australian Government and all other Australian Government funded bodies to meet the requirements of this recommendation.
Page 22 of 27 22; The an audit of policies be conducted to identify counter- in respect of promoting ecologically sustainable land use that are in and territory programs and that proposals be removal to the The Australian Government's commitment to promoting ecologically sustainable land use is substantial.
The Australian Government has dedicated over $1 billion dollars over 5 of the Natural Heritage Trust and, in conjunction with the States and Territories, has committed over $1.4 billion dollars to the National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality (NAP).

Together these commitments will go a long way to specifically address the serious biodiversity conservation, salinity and water quality issues in our land-based industries and regional communities.
In implementing these two programs, the Australian Government is continuing to re-examine government policies programs that may encourage incentives counter-productive to the pursuit of ecologically land use, Through the Natural Resource Ministerial (NRM) Council and through its bilateral under the NAP, the Australian Government continues to work closely with the sustainable land use and, where necessary, to identify those impediments which prevent Territories to identify practical strategies for the promotion of ecologically fully exploiting these opportunities.
In addition, the Productivity Commission has developed a substantial amount of policy and economic on these issues, including significant work on the identification of to ecologically sustainable land use.

This work continues to be an important on Australian Government policy making.

23: The that all Commonwealth funding far programs far land wse, be aggregated coordinated far performance reporting purp&ses9 and be aligned with national plans.

This is already being addressed through existing measures.
Government programs for ecologically sustainable land use are already and coordinated basis in the Environmental Expenditure on an as part of the Portfolio Budget Statements in 'the Australian Budget.

The document also provides a discussion of the national strategic on environmental issues.

The expenditures are reviewed for performance Page 23 of 27 monitoring and purposes through the Australian Government's .
The Natural Resource Management (NRM) Ministerial Council -at its first meeting in develop a common performance management framework to cover all 2001 to Government, State and jointly administered programs within its responsibility.

The NRM Ministerial -Council agreed to the National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework in May 2002.
The Framework, in conjunction with the National Framework for Standards and Targets also approved by the Council in May 2002, of both the national strategy and regional/catchment plans will be fully evaluated at to meet the requirements of both accountability and adaptive The accreditation guidelines for integrated NRM regional plans require conformity with both these frameworks.
Work is continuing to develop and enhance the Framework, including more detailed guidelines covering performance indicators, evaluation and data quality protocols for natural resource management programs.

24: The recommends that the Government develop options for increasing the to participate in Landcare activities far landholders on low incomes.
The current approach of the Australian Government through the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the extension of the Natural Heritage Trust is to carefully target the use of public funding.to areas where it can be used most effectively and where it can leverage the maximum private investment.

There are concerns regarding of the taxation system, which may not allow such targeting.
Potentially this could in private investment-distortion effects that do not achieve the best natural resource outcomes as some investors may not be interested in the outcome, only the tax break.

As per its 2001 election commitment, the Australian Government is committed to further providing taxation incentives for better conservation practices.

One of the in determining the best means of delivering Landcare incentives to land is making on low incomes.
incentives available to all relevant land managers, Including Current available to landowners who participate in landcare activities are that: » expenditure incurred on landcare operations qualifies for an outright in the year the expenditure is incurred; » primary producers" may write-off capital expenditure on water facilities over years; and, » a income less is available for eligible primary producers (with taxable $35,000) who develop and apply an Environmental Management Page 24 of 27 System (EMS) to their properties.
This cash reimbursement covers up to 50% of up to a maximum reimbursement of $3,000.

and delivered through the Natural Heritage Trust are available.

The 25; that the Government conduct a public Inquiry into the the ecologically sustainable use of Australia fs landscape contained in arrangements at all levels of government and make change, including costings.

This is through existing channels.


The Australian Government recognises that the tax system should not discourage sound outcomes while acknowledging that the primary goal of the taxation is to revenue to allow the Australian Government to fond a range of policy • objectives.

On-going policy review processes are in place to ensure that significant or perverse environmental impacts are identified and not allowed to occur.
• The Productivity Commission has undertaken a range of work in this area, including a public inquiry into the sustainable use of Australia's land and water resources.

The were presented in A Full Repairing Lease: An Inquiry into Ecologically Land Management (April 1999).

The range of current taxation incentives for was reviewed as part of the inquiry.
While not the subject of an inquiry, the Productivity Commission has examined possible impediments to conservation, including tax distortions, in its report, Constraints on Private Conservation of Biodiversity (July 2001).

Both of these reports are available on the Productivity Commission's http://www.pc.gov.au.

The Government has been proactive in implementing a range of taxation to encourage -gifting to the environment and remove disincentives to do so.
include: « providing an income tax deduction for gifts to deductible gift recipients of .
property valued at more than $5,000, regardless of when or how the property « allowing deductions to be spread over five years if the gift is made to an environment or heritage organisation; » providing a capital eligible organisation; tax exemption for gifts of property left in a will to an * the capital gains tax rales to ensure that landowners who set aside part or all of their land for conservation in perpetuity in return for a payment are not disadvantaged; and Page 25 of 27 » providing a new income tax deduction for any reduction in land value a into a perpetual conservation covenant with- an for no consideration.
The Prime Minister's Community Business Partnership (CBP) recommended the last tax initiative above to the Prime Minister.
-The Australian Government is also committed to the implementation of the two remaining recommendations of the CBP, • m to allow government agencies to be eligible to receive a donation of a conservation covenant which provides a tax deduction for the donor; and to allow an immediate deduction for donations of capital or property where the the right to a flow of future benefits from the asset—known as a living bequest—to allow ownership of assets to be transferred to a charitable organisation while the donor retains certain rights of use, usually until death.
The Australian Government has committed to a cash reimbursement for eligible primary producers who develop and apply an Environmental Management System (EMS) to their This cash reimbursement covers up to 50% of the costs involved, up to a of $3,000.

26; The recommends that the Government examine the feasibility of an levy to pay far the public contribution to the.

of the ecologically sustainable use of Australia's catchment The Committee further recommends that such a levy: ' .
« in place for no than 25 years; mmd m be on each taxpayer's taxation notice, This recommendation is not supported.

In deciding whether public funds should be expended for conservation, the burden of .

proof should be to show that the benefits are primarily public in nature, rather than private.

Many conservation measures produce largely private benefits.
For example, measures aimed at preventing declining fertility or soil structure, and expenditure on conserving or conveying water are likely to provide largely private benefits.

That is, the individual landholders capture the benefits.

Where landholders undertake conservation activities that primarily benefit themselves, there is little justification for compensation from the wider community.
Instead, the costs of conservation are essentially a cost of production, so the ongoing costs of meeting an environmental standard should be passed forward to consumers, wherever possible, rather than being funded by taxpayers through the Budget.

Page 26 of 27 TMs not rale out adjustment assistance if the Australian Government deems it resulting in the taxpayer bearing some cost during a transition period.
If the Government decides to fund the public benefit (or to provide adjustment to receiving private benefit), funding should continue to be sourced from rather than a special levy.

TMs would ensure maximum flexibility in the of expenditure, and enable it to be assessed on an ongoing basis against the Government's overall fiscal priorities.
A levy on income, in addition to the Medicare levy, has.been imposed on only one occasion - namely for the 1996-97-income year to cover the compulsory acquisition by the Australian Government of certain firearms outlawed by State and • Territory governments.

The Australian Government decided to' fund this activity through a levy because of the one-off nature of the buy back scheme, and because there at the no similar government program funded -under the Australian Government budget.
The Committee's proposal would involve imposing an on-going levy to fund a budgetary over an extended period.

In contrast, the gun buy back levy applied for one year only and for the purpose of funding a discrete and readily identifiable budgetary commitment.

More generally, the imposition of an environment levy would reduce the benefit to the of the personal income tax cuts that were introduced on 1 July 2000. as part of tax system.
It would also be counter'to the emphasis in the recent tax reforms on marginal tax rates and reducing the personal income tax burden.

In this context, an environment levy would have a relatively greater impact on the marginal tax rates by lower income earners.
The Australian Government considers that a long-term solution to the ecologically use of natural resources, such as catchment systems, can only be achieved the costs of natural resource management are fully reflected in functioning markets, rather than through continuing commitment of taxpayer funds.
The approach of the Australian Government through the National Action Plan for and Water Quality (NAP) and the extension of the Natural Heritage Trust is to the use of public funding to- areas where it can be used most effectively and The it can leverage the maximum private investment.

Government also recognises that, as a component of its public good many should of natural resources management, such as data collection and are being funded through government appropriations.
Page 27 of 27 PI 386 MX 143—4 December 2003 22 AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS The Speaker presented the following papers; Auditor-General—Audit reports of 2003-2004—Performance audits— No.

16—Administration of consular services follow-up audit: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

No.

17—AQIS cost-recovery systems follow-up audit: Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

Reports ordered to be printed.


23 PAPERS—MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF PAPERS Mr Abbott (Leader of the House) presented the following papers: Aboriginal Land Commissioner—Reports and recommendations to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and to the Administrator of the Northern Territory— No.

66—Seven Emu Region Land Claim No.

186; Wollogorang Area II Land Claim No.

187, and part of Manangoora Region Land Claim No.

185.
185.

Explanatory statement by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

No.

67—Lower Daly Land Claim No.

68.

Explanatory Statement by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Australian Communications Authority—Telecommunications performance—Report for 2002-03.

Australian Film Commission—Report for 2002-03—Erratum.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare—Report—Australia's welfare 2003.
Australian Technology Group Limited— Financial statements for 2003.

Statement of Corporate Intent—2003-04.

Central Land Council—Report for 2002-03.

Department of Defence—Special purpose flights—Schedule for period January to June 2003.

Department of Finance and Administration—Reports— Former Parliamentarians' travel paid by the department for the period January to June 2003, December 2003.

Parliamentarians' travel paid by the department for the period January to June 2003, December 2003.
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet—Expenditure on travel by former Governors-General paid by the department for the period January to June 2003.

Enterprise and Career Education Foundation—Report for 2002-03.

Environment and Heritage—House of Representatives Standing Committee—Report—-Co-ordinating Catchment Management—Government response.

Finance—Consolidated financial statements in respect of the year ending 30 June 2003.

Official Establishments Trust—Report for 2002-03.


Privacy Amendment Bill 2003—Explanatory memorandum.

and moved—That the House take note of the papers.

Debate adjourned (Ms Gillard), and the resumption of each debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

24 25 Mr Abbott (Leader of the House) presented the following paper: Petition not in accord with standing and sessional orders of the House.
OF MATTER OF PUBLIC EMPORTANCE--OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE The House was informed that Mr Latham (Leader of the Opposition) had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, "The Howard Government's failure to provide adequate opportunities for the Australian people, particularly, education and community services".

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support— Mr Latham addressed the House.