❓ Mr. Alban questions the Minister for Environment about the duplication of state and federal threatened species lists. The Minister responds that alignment has been agreed upon, using the IUCN list as a basis, reducing costs and maintaining environmental rigour.
AnsweredQoN 965Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
THREATENED
SPECIES LISTS — STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNIFORMITY
965. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Minister for Environment:
I understand that the state and federal governments have
separate threatened species lists to guide environmental impact assessments,
which causes confusion and unnecessary duplication for proponents. Could the
minister please outline what he has done to address this issue?
SPECIES LISTS — STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNIFORMITY
965. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the
Minister for Environment:
I understand that the state and federal governments have
separate threatened species lists to guide environmental impact assessments,
which causes confusion and unnecessary duplication for proponents. Could the
minister please outline what he has done to address this issue?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills for the question. He is
correct; indeed, ever since the federal government stepped into this space,
historically, state and federal governments have used different criteria to
assess, rank and ultimately list threatened species. They then use these
differential criteria as a basis for making decisions on the environmental
impact of development proposals. Over a long period, this has resulted in
unnecessary jurisdictional duplication in species' assessment for no
environmental benefit. As a result, as of last month, the commonwealth
government and I have agreed to align the criteria for the listing of
threatened species on both of our lists so there will be an alignment. We will
also work towards creating one single threatened species list over the coming
years. This will reduce the cost of environmental impact assessments for
Western Australian projects that were previously forced to undertake two
separate processes for threatened species. This benefit will continue to grow
as these lists become fully uniform over the coming years. The transition for
Western Australia—I believe other states may be looking at this—will
be particularly smooth. This is a real win from a Western Australian
perspective as well, given that the listing criteria that both the federal and
state lists will now be based on will be the International Union for
Conservation of Nature, or the IUCN list, which is already the basis of this
state's list. The commonwealth will shift its basis to the criteria
that the state of Western Australia has already been using and will continue to
use. The IUCN red list approach for threatened species is already considered
the most comprehensive and objective global approach for evaluating the
conservation status of plant and animal species. Continuing to offer the same
rigorous protection for our most at-risk species, while at the same time being
able to cut red tape for businesses and proponents, is a great example of how
we can deliver practical benefits to our state's economy and also
continue to uphold environmental rigour.
In this vein, I look forward to introducing the Liberal–National
government's new biodiversity conservation bill to this house in the
near future. This proposed bill will bring in a new era of conservation by
introducing contemporary legislative bases for conservation actions. It will
bring in a new listing and recovery of threatened species, recognition of
threatened ecological communities, positive biodiversity conservation covenants
to recognise and facilitate private efforts for biodiversity and conservation,
and numerous other new features.
correct; indeed, ever since the federal government stepped into this space,
historically, state and federal governments have used different criteria to
assess, rank and ultimately list threatened species. They then use these
differential criteria as a basis for making decisions on the environmental
impact of development proposals. Over a long period, this has resulted in
unnecessary jurisdictional duplication in species' assessment for no
environmental benefit. As a result, as of last month, the commonwealth
government and I have agreed to align the criteria for the listing of
threatened species on both of our lists so there will be an alignment. We will
also work towards creating one single threatened species list over the coming
years. This will reduce the cost of environmental impact assessments for
Western Australian projects that were previously forced to undertake two
separate processes for threatened species. This benefit will continue to grow
as these lists become fully uniform over the coming years. The transition for
Western Australia—I believe other states may be looking at this—will
be particularly smooth. This is a real win from a Western Australian
perspective as well, given that the listing criteria that both the federal and
state lists will now be based on will be the International Union for
Conservation of Nature, or the IUCN list, which is already the basis of this
state's list. The commonwealth will shift its basis to the criteria
that the state of Western Australia has already been using and will continue to
use. The IUCN red list approach for threatened species is already considered
the most comprehensive and objective global approach for evaluating the
conservation status of plant and animal species. Continuing to offer the same
rigorous protection for our most at-risk species, while at the same time being
able to cut red tape for businesses and proponents, is a great example of how
we can deliver practical benefits to our state's economy and also
continue to uphold environmental rigour.
In this vein, I look forward to introducing the Liberal–National
government's new biodiversity conservation bill to this house in the
near future. This proposed bill will bring in a new era of conservation by
introducing contemporary legislative bases for conservation actions. It will
bring in a new listing and recovery of threatened species, recognition of
threatened ecological communities, positive biodiversity conservation covenants
to recognise and facilitate private efforts for biodiversity and conservation,
and numerous other new features.
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