Table 3: Summary of costs and benefits Stakeholder Scenario 1 Base Case (non-ratification) Ratification prior to mid-2016 Scenario 2A Minimum Requirement to ratify Scenario 2B Interception / removal of amalgam waste from dental practices Scenario 2C Early phase-out of pesticides (2017) and removal of waste amalgam from dental practices Costs Government As per current costs Costs associated with meeting ratification: Development of guidelines Financial resources required and mechanisms Regulation, compliance costs Changes to ongoing regulation, compliance costs. Similar to 2A Similar to 2A Industry As per current costs but with potential for trade-related measures Costs associated with meeting ratification: Increased costs to implement Phase-out by 2020 of mercury-added products Costs for new and existing point sources (e.g. gold production and coal fired power) Changes to ongoing costs (and revenues) as a result of ratification. Similar to 2A Increased costs for installation and operation of mercury traps and separators Similar to 2A Increased costs for early phase out of mercury-containing pesticides. Increased costs for installation and operation of mercury traps and separators. Benefits/avoided costs Health outcomes Health outcomes consistent with current trends/ experience but with some improvement due to other Countries’ decision to ratify Potential for improved health outcomes within Australia as a direct result of changes made by Australia. Benefits from increased removal of mercury from Sewerage system Benefits from early phase out of mercury-containing pesticides. Benefits from increased removal of mercury from Sewerage system. Environmental outcomes Environmental outcomes consistent with current trends./ experience but with some improvement due to other Countries’ decision to ratify Potential for improved environmental outcomes within Australia as a direct result of changes made by Australia. Benefits from increased removal of mercury from Sewerage system Benefits from early phase out of mercury-containing pesticides. Benefits from increased removal of mercury from Sewerage system. containing
Article either directly or through the Secretariat, or in cooperation with other relevant organisations. Each Party shall designate a national focal point for the exchange of information under the Convention, including with regard to the consent of importing Parties under Article 3. Environment estimates) non-specific as to any direct action required from Party’s. Australia’s national focal point for exchange of information will rest with the Department of the Environment. Any costs associated with information exchange under this would be absorbed within Department costs outlined above. Article 18 – Public information Each Party shall promote and facilitate provision to the public of available information on health and environment effects; alternatives to mercury; topics included in paragraph1 Article 17 – information exchange; result of research, development and monitoring; and activities undertaken to meet obligations under the Convention. Education, training and public awareness related to the effects of exposure to mercury and mercury compounds on human health and the environment. Minimal additional requirements (absorbed with existing budgets of the Departments and government agencies) Reporting on activities undertaken to meet obligation under the Convention has been included in the Department’s estimate Article 19 – Research, development & monitoring $0 Existing funding to the Asian-Pacific region managed by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are expected to be able to be allocated towards initiatives which would meet the requirements of this Article. Article 21 – Reporting Reporting to the Conference of the Parties, through the Secretariat, on measure taken to implement the provision of the Convention. Includes reporting information outlined in Articles 3,5,7,8 and 9. Minimal (included in Department of the Environment estimates) The timing and format of reporting will be decided at the first meeting of the Parties. However, based on the Basel Convention requirements, costs based on a three year reporting cycle have been estimated by the Department. Article 22 – Monitoring data Effectiveness evaluation $0 Appears will be undertaken as part of the Conference of the Parties process relying on data provided under other articles (eg. Article 21).
Industries with potential air emissions Coal fired power generation and industrial boilers; Non-ferrous metals smelting and roasting (lead, zinc, copper and industrial gold); Waste incineration; Cement; Cane Growers; Dental; Lighting; Waste and recycling sector; and Oil and gas production; The Department has previously identified that there are 14 Articles of the Convention which will require Australia’s action if Australia becomes Party to the Convention. Follow up consultation for this project Marsden Jacob surveyed and had a number of discussions with industry stakeholders in order to inform the development of the industry impact analysis.
Table 27: Details of the organisations consulted and the topics discussed Organisation Consulted Topic Minerals Council Mining – esp. Article 8 & Non Ferrous metals & coal mining Cement Industry Federation Cement Industry esp. Article 8 Energy Supply Association esp. Article 8 Aluminium Council esp. Article 8 Cane Growers Discussed Shirtan and alternatives Crop Care Discussed Shirtan and alternatives Alpha Chemicals Discussed Shirtan and other products NOPSEMA Mercury in petroleum and gas APPEA Mercury in petroleum and gas WA Dept of Mines and Petroleum Mercury in petroleum and gas WA Department of Health Data on mercury in people WA Dept of Environmental Regulation Data on mercury in environment Safe Work Australia Data on workers compensation claims relating to mercury WA Water Corporation Discussed mercury in sewerage and WWTP sludge Ecocycle Discussed mercury sources and recycling SDI Limited Discussed impact of reduced mercury imports on dental amalgam and use of recycled amalgam Australian Dental Association (ADA) Discussed use of mercury in dental amalgam and mercury separator costs Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) Discussed use of mercury in dental amalgam and mercury separator costs Ironbark Sustainability Discussed quantum of mercury vapour streetlights in Australia and the status of current replacement programs Department of State Development Discussed updates to energy efficiency standards for lighting Energex Discussed mercury vapour streetlight, replacement programs and lamp distributors Gerald Lighting Discussed sales of mercury vapour streetlights and demand going forward Qld Department of Environment and Heritage Protection Data on mercury in environment Qld Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts Data on mercury in environment CSIRO Discussed data on mercury in environment