Table 5: Outcome and programme structure Outcomes Programmes Responsible divisions Outcome 1: clean land Conserve, protect and sustainably manage Australia’s biodiversity, ecosystems, environment and heritage through research, information management, supporting natural resource management, establishing and managing Commonwealth protected areas, and reducing and regulating the use of pollutants and hazardous substances. Programme 1.1: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and the Environment. Biodiversity Conservation Division. Programme 1.2: Environmental Information and Research. Policy Analysis and Implementation Division, Parks Australia, Science Division, Wildlife Heritage and Marine Division. Programme 1.3: Carbon Pollution Reduction—Land Sector Initiatives. Biodiversity Conservation Division. Programme 1.4: Conservation of Australia’s Heritage and the Environment. Biodiversity Conservation Division, Wildlife Heritage and Marine Division. Programme 1.5: Environmental Regulation. Environment Assessment and Compliance Division, Policy Analysis and Implementation Division, Science Division. Programme 1.6: Management of Hazardous Wastes, Substances and Pollutants. Environment Quality Division. Outcome 2: clean air Reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change and contribute to the negotiation of an effective global solution to climate change, through developing and implementing a national response to climate change. Programme 2.1: Reducing Australia’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Emissions Reduction Fund Division. Programme 2.2: Adapting to Climate Change. Climate Change and Renewable Energy Division, Science Division. Outcome 3: Antarctica Advance Australia’s strategic, scientific, environmental and economic interests in the Antarctic by protecting, administering and researching the region. Programme 3.1: Antarctica: Science, Policy and Presence. Australian Antarctic Division. Outcome 4: clean water Improve the health of rivers and freshwater ecosystems and water use efficiency through implementing water reforms, and ensuring enhanced sustainability, efficiency and productivity in the management and use of water resources. Programme 4.1: Water Reform. Science Division, Water Division. Programme 4.2: Commonwealth Environmental Water. Commonwealth Environmental Water Office. Corporate Outcome: organisational effectiveness Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our Department. Corporate Strategies Division, General Counsel, Policy Analysis and Implementation Division.
Finalise existing programmes of research activity funded under the National Environmental Research Program and make findings publicly available by 30 June 2015. Achieved. Over 98% of research activity was finalised under the National Environmental Research Program in 2014–15. Three projects will be completed and all research hub funding will be acquitted by December 2015. The National Environmental Research Program delivered over 700 products, including open access publications, tools, models, synthesis reports and datasets. In collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology, develop a collaborative approach with Australian Government data holders to progress the discovery, access and reuse of datasets for priority environmental information. Achieved. The Department drafted high-level principles to guide improvements in the discoverability, accessibility and re-use of environmental information. The principles are being finalised through the Australian Government Environmental Information Advisory Group and the National Plan for Environmental Information Joint Steering Committee. Refine and populate headline environmental indicators with key national datasets by December 2015. In progress. The Department developed a framework for an initial set of measures of key aspects of the environment and has initiated pilot projects with key stakeholders. Acquit Suburban Jobs Programme funding, pending completion of milestones for the three purpose-built facilities funded under the programme in Penrith (NSW), Melton (Victoria) and Playford (South Australia), and publish key programme findings by 31 December 2015. In progress. All three Suburban Jobs Programme facilities are complete and open. All grant funding has been acquitted and milestones completed. Information about the programme is on the Department’s website. Implement the National Taxonomy Research Grant Programme to support early career researchers and provide authoritative taxonomic and nomenclatural information on Australia’s biota. Achieved. Funding for the next round of projects under the Australian Biological Resources Study’s National Taxonomy Research Grant Programme was approved on 29 January 2015. In 2014–15, the National Taxonomy Research Grants resulted in the classification and description of more than 740 new species and 79 new genera (a group of species) and the revision of more than 1700 species and 117 genera. Around 1732 additional fauna names were added to the Australian Faunal Directory. The Department published scientific reports from five Bush Blitz expeditions in WA, NT and SA.
procedures including a conflict of interest policy and elected the first full three-year term Multidisciplinary Expert Panel. Australia’s candidate was elected to the panel. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Australia is one of the original contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Australia has designated 65 sites for the List of Wetlands of International Importance—an inventory prescribed by the Convention on Wetlands (more commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, which was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971). The Department responded to Ramsar Secretariat requests for information regarding third-party notifications on some Ramsar sites and hosted the Ramsar Secretary General on a tour of two Victorian Ramsar sites in November 2014. Representatives of the Department attended the 12th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention in Uruguay in June 2015, and the 6th Oceania Regional meeting in Fiji in August 2014. Australia contributed a national report, hosted a side event on Commonwealth Environmental Watering in the Murray–Darling Basin and took a leadership role in discussions on wetland restoration. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Australia has been signatory since 2000 to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), adopted by over 193 countries. The UNCCD’s objective is to combat desertification by mitigating the effects of land degradation in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification. Australia has substantial policy and technical expertise in sustainable management of land and water. We contribute to long-term integrated strategies of the UNCCD that focus on improved productivity of land and the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of land and water resources. United Nations Environment Programme The Department’s engagement with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) included supporting the Parliamentary Secretary’s attendance at the first Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific. The forum was convened by UNEP in May 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss challenges and find solutions to regional environment and sustainability issues. Wildlife trade including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora During 2014–15, the Department has participated in the United Nations Group of Friends on Poaching and Illicit Wildlife Trafficking, which is focused on bringing a draft Resolution on Tackling Trafficking in Wildlife to the United Nations General Assembly. Australian representatives also attended the Kasane Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade, held in Botswana in March 2015. The conference built on international achievements in implementing the London Declaration. Through the declaration, countries and partner organisations committed to cooperating to achieve four outcomes to combat illegal wildlife trade:
156B(1) Decision whether or not to accept a varied proposal 25 6 Administrative delays; delay in obtaining sufficient information to make decision 156E(1) Notification of person proposing and designated proponent whether or not varied proposal accepted 25 0 156E(2) Notification to a state or territory minister to accept a varied proposal 2 0 156E(3) Notification of acceptance of a varied proposal in accordance with the regulations 19 5 Administrative delays 156F(5) Publication of notification to change of person proposing to take action 14 5 Administrative delays; administrative errors; delay in reply from party invited to comment 170A(b) Publication of information relating to assessments: receipt of referral of an action 225 0 170A(c) Publication of information relating to assessments: controlled action decisions 84 14 Administrative delays 170A(d) Publication of information relating to assessments: decision on assessment approach 70 14 Administrative delays 170A(e) Publication of information relating to assessments: preliminary documentation information and invitations 116 54 Administrative delays 170A(f) Publication of information relating to assessments: guidelines 7 3 Administrative delays 170A(h) Publication of information relating to assessments: reports or statements 19 6 Administrative delays 170A(i) Publication of information relating to assessments: assessment on referral information final recommendation report 4 3 Administrative delays 170A(ia) Publication of information relating to assessments: assessment on preliminary documentation, public environment report and environmental impact statement recommendation reports 91 52 Administrative delays 170A(j) Publication of information relating to assessments: other matters—decision to approve or not approve an action 83 2 Administrative delays Table 28: Other provisions decisions and their compliance with statutory time frames in 2014–15 Section Total Late Reasons for delay 194Q(8) Decision about inclusion of an item in the Subdivision A List—additional requirements if Minister decides not to include item 4 2 Administrative delays 266B(6) Approved conservation advices for listed threatened species 35 31 Administrative delays 266B(6) Approved conservation advices for listed threatened ecological communities 8 5 Administrative delays
Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance (section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) Mandatory 164–168 Compliance with the agency’s obligations under the Carer Recognition Act 2010 If applicable, mandatory N/A Grant programmes Mandatory 180 Disability reporting—explicit and transparent reference to agency-level information available through other reporting mechanisms Mandatory 175–176 Information Publication Scheme statement Mandatory 158–160 Correction of material errors in previous annual report If applicable, mandatory 257 Agency resource statements and resources for outcomes Mandatory 244–257 List of requirements Mandatory 387–390 Index A abbreviations, 383 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, 63 acronyms, 383 address and contact details, iv advertising and market research expenditure, 256 advisory committees, 215–216 agency resource statement 2014–15, 244–246 Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 107 agricultural chemicals, 76 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, 61 algae, 42 Alligator Rivers Region, 26, 65 Indigenous engagement, 75 monitoring programme 2014–15, 66, 68, 72 performance against KPIs and deliverables, 71–72, 74 Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee, 72 Antarctic Blue Whale Project, 46 Antarctic Programme, 101–109 compliance with permit conditions, 109 objectives, 103 performance against KPIs and deliverables, 104–109 performance review, 104–105 scientific research, 102–104, 105, 107