❓ Hon Giz Watson asks the Minister for Environment if they will amend the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 to compel compliance with the Forest Management Plan. The Minister responds that there is no current plan for such an amendment, but the next FMP will clarify roles and responsibilities.
AnsweredQoN 855Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION — FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN —
COMPLIANCE
855. Hon GIZ WATSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Conservation Commission's mid-term
audit report of the ''Forest management plan 2004–2013'',
in which the commission noted that ''the department has raised with the
Conservation Commission an issue concerning the adequacy of the department's
powers with respect to compliance with the FMP by its implementing agencies and
stated 'The Conservation Commission offers the department support in
seeking appropriate powers under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984'.''
(1) Will the
minister introduce a bill amending the Conservation and Land Management Act
1984 to enable his department to compel compliance with the forest management
plan?
(2) If yes to (l) —
(a) when; and
(b) what
additional funding will be provided for the minister's department to
carry out this function?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION — FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN —
COMPLIANCE
855. Hon GIZ WATSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Conservation Commission's mid-term
audit report of the ''Forest management plan 2004–2013'',
in which the commission noted that ''the department has raised with the
Conservation Commission an issue concerning the adequacy of the department's
powers with respect to compliance with the FMP by its implementing agencies and
stated 'The Conservation Commission offers the department support in
seeking appropriate powers under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984'.''
(1) Will the
minister introduce a bill amending the Conservation and Land Management Act
1984 to enable his department to compel compliance with the forest management
plan?
(2) If yes to (l) —
(a) when; and
(b) what
additional funding will be provided for the minister's department to
carry out this function?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) There is no current plan for such an amendment.
(2) See the answer to (1).
(3) In the
Conservation Commission's mid-term audit of performance of the ''Forest
management plan 2004–2013'', some concern was expressed
regarding the legislative clarity of the Department of Environment and
Conservation's relationship with proponents, including the Forest
Products Commission, and how they operate on department-managed land. In the
same report, the Conservation Commission also raised some issues concerning
roles and responsibilities. The Environmental Protection Authority, in its reports
and recommendations on the mid and end-of-term audits of performance of the
current FMP, advised that the next FMP for the period 2014–2023 should
aim to clarify the statutory roles and responsibilities of the department and
the FPC. Accordingly, as outlined on pages 151 and 153 of the ''Draft
forest management plan 2014–2023'', it is proposed that the
interagency arrangements between the department and the FPC be formalised in
writing to clarify and improve the current arrangements, and by the creation of
several key additional elements. This includes that the department is formally
recognised as the regulator, leading to the establishment of responsibilities
for all parties in a compliant regulatory regime, and that a regulation policy
is written by the department to confirm the regulatory framework for all
parties. The ''Draft forest management plan 2014–2023''
is open for public comment until 7 November 2012.
(1) There is no current plan for such an amendment.
(2) See the answer to (1).
(3) In the
Conservation Commission's mid-term audit of performance of the ''Forest
management plan 2004–2013'', some concern was expressed
regarding the legislative clarity of the Department of Environment and
Conservation's relationship with proponents, including the Forest
Products Commission, and how they operate on department-managed land. In the
same report, the Conservation Commission also raised some issues concerning
roles and responsibilities. The Environmental Protection Authority, in its reports
and recommendations on the mid and end-of-term audits of performance of the
current FMP, advised that the next FMP for the period 2014–2023 should
aim to clarify the statutory roles and responsibilities of the department and
the FPC. Accordingly, as outlined on pages 151 and 153 of the ''Draft
forest management plan 2014–2023'', it is proposed that the
interagency arrangements between the department and the FPC be formalised in
writing to clarify and improve the current arrangements, and by the creation of
several key additional elements. This includes that the department is formally
recognised as the regulator, leading to the establishment of responsibilities
for all parties in a compliant regulatory regime, and that a regulation policy
is written by the department to confirm the regulatory framework for all
parties. The ''Draft forest management plan 2014–2023''
is open for public comment until 7 November 2012.
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