Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I will. Senator Abetz referred to a review of the act. I also draw attention to the government’s Environment budget overview 2006-07, where the government has apparently allocated funds and committed to a review of the act. I am seeking some further information as to the extent of that review, when it is going to start, the amount of resources that have been allocated, what the terms of reference are, how long it will take, what form it will take, who will be carrying it out, who will be consulted, how extensive the consultation process will be and whether it is intended to be a public review. I would very much appreciate those clarifications.

As Senator Carr pointed out, the Evatt report looking into this matter is 10 years old. Former Senator Hill, when the changes were made to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 2003, committed to a review and to comprehensive amendments to the act. Bear in mind that when this act was first brought in it was always seen as a stopgap act. In fact, it had a sunset clause which was removed when the act was not significantly amended previously. I am wondering if it is possible to get some outline of the extent of the review.