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and support threat abatement actions in their management programs. It also contains information on priorities for research to enable universities and other research facilities to target research projects towards addressing gaps in knowledge.

Although the Minister had initially agreed to develop a separate threat abatement plan and threat abatement advice, the drafting of the two documents revealed significant duplication. Recent advances in the understanding of chytrid fungus enabled longer term research priorities to be developed and included as part of this TAP, with the result that the threat abatement advice became redundant.

Due to resource constraints and current priorities within the Department, the scientifically detailed background document that accompanied the previous TAP will not be updated.

1. Threat abatement plan for infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis

1.1 Threat abatement plans and implementation
The EPBC Act prescribes the process, content and consultation to be followed when making a TAP to address a listed key threatening process. Under Section 270(A) of the EPBC Act, the Australian Government:

  • develops TAPs where the Minister agrees that the making of a TAP is a feasible, efficient and effective way to abate a key threatening process.

Under Section 269 of the EPBC Act, the Australian Government:

  • implements TAPs to the extent they apply in areas under Australian Government control and responsibility. Australian Government agencies must not take any actions that contravene a TAP.

  • seeks the cooperation of the affected jurisdictions in situations where a TAP applies outside Australian Government areas in states or territories, with a view to jointly implementing the TAP.

The success of this TAP will depend on a high level of cooperation between all key stakeholders, including:

  • Australian Government departments and agencies

  • state and territory conservation and natural resource management agencies

  • local governments

  • research and zoological institutions

  • the general community, including non-government environmental organisations and private conservation land management bodies, private landholders, Indigenous communities and natural resource management groups.

It will be important that land managers assess the threats and impacts of chytrid fungus and allocate adequate resources in order to work towards: effective on-ground prevention of spread and management of impacts; improving the effectiveness of prevention and management programs; and measuring and assessing outcomes.

In order to successfully implement this TAP, the Department will:

  • coordinate its implementation as it applies to Commonwealth land and act in accordance with the provisions of the TAP, as required under the EPBC Act

  • seek stronger coordination of national action on chytrid fungus

  • draw on expertise from state and territory agencies and non-government organisations

  • encourage involvement of key stakeholders and experts in chytrid-related research and management.

The Australian Government will monitor