1998-1999-2000-2001

THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

SENATE

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AMENDMENT (WILDLIFE PROTECTION) BILL 2001

SUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

New Clauses to be moved on Behalf of the Government

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, 
Senator the Hon. Robert Hill)

ISBN:  0642 459479

NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL CLAUSES

Schedule 1, Item 11, page 21 (after line 12), after subsection (1), insert (1A), (1B), (1C) and (1D).

(1)	Part 10 of the Act provides for Commonwealth fisheries to undergo strategic environmental assessment.  This strategic assessment process ensures a rigorous examination of environmental issues in an efficient and timely manner.  The purpose of this clause is to ensure that the outcomes of the strategic assessment process will be relied upon for the purpose of deciding whether to add specimens derived from the fishery to the list of specimens which are exempt from export controls under Division 3 of Part 13A.  Only in exceptional circumstances would other matters need to be considered.  Accordingly, the clause provides additional certainty that Commonwealth fisheries will only be subject to one best-practice environmental assessment process.  

Schedule 1, Item 11, page 46 (after line 9), after subsection (10), insert (10A) and (10B).

(2)	Part 10 of the Act provides for Commonwealth fisheries to undergo strategic environmental assessment.  This strategic assessment process ensures a rigorous examination of environmental issues in an efficient and timely manner.  The purpose of this clause is to ensure that the outcomes of the strategic assessment process will be relied upon for the purpose of deciding whether to declare that a commercial fishery is an approved wildlife trade operation.  Only in exceptional circumstances would other matters need to be considered.  Accordingly, the clause provides additional certainty that Commonwealth fisheries will only be subject to one best-practice environmental assessment process.