cover image: WENTWORTH GROUP SUBMISSION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE INQUIRY Nature Positive (Environment Information Australia) Bill 2024,

WENTWORTH GROUP SUBMISSION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE INQUIRY Nature Positive (Environment Information Australia) Bill 2024,

7 Aug 2024

This could include: • A Governance Board6 with clear functions and duties, including: o the appointment of the CEO or equivalent7 o oversight of the strategic direction and operations of the agency.8 • Clear eligibility requirements for appointment to the Governing Board and the role of CEO.9 • Provisions limiting the Minister to giving a direction to the regulator (CEO and Board) only when the di. [...] We submit that the enabling legislation for the EPA should 6 See s.15 of the NSW Protection of the Environment Act 1991 (POEA Act) and s.9 of the Victorian Environment Protection Act 2017 (Vic EP Act) 7 See s.21(1) of the Vic EP Act 8 See s.16 of the POEA Act and s.10 of the Vic EP Act 9 See s.15(3A and 3B) of the POEA Act, s.9(3) of the Vic EP Act, s.14B(5) of the South Australian Environment Pro. [...] AND (2) must ensure the approval of the action will, based on the best available scientific evidence, result in a net positive outcome for the viability of the migratory species, whereby viability means the ability of the species to survive and recover in the wild. [...] 140B Requirements for decisions about the marine environment (1) In deciding whether or not to approve for the purposes of a subsection of section 23 or section 24A the taking of an action, and what conditions to attach to such an approval, the Minister must ensure the approval of the action will, based on the best available scientific evidence, result in a net positive outcome for the condition o. [...] 146N Approvals relating to the marine environment (1) If the approval relates to the marine environment the Minister must ensure the approval will, based on the best available scientific evidence, result in a net positive outcome for the condition of the environment in the impacted Commonwealth marine area.

Authors

Debbie Medaris

Pages
24
Published in
Australia

Table of Contents