Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for the Environment, in writing, on 05 December 2019:

(1) When was 'fire regimes that cause biodiversity decline' (formerly 'contemporary fire regimes resulting in the loss of vegetation heterogeneity and biodiversity throughout Australia') first nominated as a key threatening process (KTP) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).(2) Is it a fact that, as stated on the Department of the Environment and Energy's website, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) provided finalised advice to the Minister on this nomination in March 2011.(3) Has any further advice been provided by the TSSC since March 2011.(4) In respect of the statement on the department's website that the timeframe for the Minister to make a decision on whether to list this KTP was extended to 31 August 2013 to allow for further consultation with state and territory governments and to allow the Minister to consider the department's review of key threatening processes, and was then further extended to 29 November 2013 to allow the committee to review the further input from the states and territories—why has there been such a delay in making a decision on this nomination.(5) When will a final decision be made on whether or not to list 'fire regimes that cause biodiversity decline' as a KTP under the EPBC Act.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) 'Contemporary fire regimes resulting in the loss of vegetation heterogeneity and biodiversity in Northern Australia' was nominated as a key threatening process (KTP) in 2007. As the issues raised in the original nomination were also relevant to other areas of Australia, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee broadened the nomination to encompass the whole of Australia and changed the title to 'Contemporary fire regimes resulting in the loss of vegetation heterogeneity and biodiversity throughout Australia'. The broadened nomination was included on the Finalised Priority Assessment List for the assessment period commencing 1 October 2008 and subsequently renamed 'Fire regimes that cause biodiversity decline'.

(2) Yes.

(3) Yes. The Committee sent a letter to the then Minister (Minister Burke) in May 2013.

(4) The assessment is particularly complex, requiring consideration of multiple aspects of fire and biodiversity management in Australia.

(5) I have asked the Threatened Species Scientific Committee to review its assessment of this threatening process and provide me with advice on next steps following its February meeting.