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

I indicate to the chamber that there will be some amendments that I will not be proceeding with. I am reading the sense of the chamber that I am going to go down in a screaming heap on a number of my amendments. However, there are a number of broader issues that I still want to canvass and ask the government some questions on and to get certain things on the record for implementation of the bill and also for interpretation of the bill. So I indicate that I will be withdrawing some of our amendments, because I have canvassed the broader issues that some of them relate to and some of them are dependent on other amendments that have already gone down.

The CHAIRMAN: It may be easiest if we continue through the running sheet and, as we approach those particular amendments, you indicate them then.

I provided the information to the chamber so that people know where I am going with this debate.

The CHAIRMAN: Thank you.

I move amendment (16) on sheet 7676:

(16) Page 46 (after line 4), after Chapter 1, insert:

Chapter 1A—Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan

33A Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan

(1) The Agriculture Minister and the Environment Minister must take all reasonable steps to ensure an Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan is developed, and prepared in written form, as soon as practicable after the commencement of this Act.

(2) The Plan must include:

  (a) how Australia will meet obligations relating to biosecurity risk under the Biodiversity Convention; and

  (b) how Australia will meet obligations relating to biosecurity risk under Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, as in force from time to time; and

  (c) how Australia will meet any other obligations relating to biosecurity risk that the Agriculture Minister, or the Environment Minister, considers relevant.

(3) The Agriculture Minister or the Environment Minister must consult the following when developing and preparing the Plan:

  (a) Indigenous groups;

  (b) industry groups;

  (c) State and Territory governments;

  (d) local governments;

  (e) public sector entities;

  (f) conservation organisations;

  (g) any other interested groups;

  (h) the general community.

33B Variation of Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan

(1) The Agriculture Minister and the Environment Minister may vary an Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan.

(2) However, the Agriculture Minister and the Environment Minister must not vary an Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan unless the persons and groups mentioned in subsection 33A(3) have been consulted.

33C Environment Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan must be published

     The Environment Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan must be published on:

  (a) the Agriculture Department's website; or

  (b) the Environment Department's website.

33D Review of Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan

     The Agriculture Minister and the Environment Minister must cause a review of the Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action plan to take place:

  (a) within 5 years after the Plan is first developed; and

  (b) once every subsequent 5-year period.

33E Reporting requirements

(1) As soon as practicable after 30 June in each year, the Agriculture Minister and the Environment Minister must prepare a joint report on the implementation and operation of the Environmental Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan during the previous 12 months.

(2) The report must be included in the annual report of:

  (a) the Agriculture Department; and

  (b) the Environment Department.

This amendment relates to an environmental biosecurity strategy and action plan, specifically to the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for the Environment taking all reasonable steps to ensure that an environmental biosecurity strategy and action plan is developed and prepared in written form as soon as practicable after the commencement of this act. This is important because it is an essential component and complement to biosecurity laws.

We believe that biosecurity strategy and action plans that identify the priorities, targets and actions necessary to achieve national environmental goals are absolutely essential and must complement this process. The guiding principles for the implementation of article 8(h) of the Convention on Biological Diversity emphasise their importance and identify important elements. The proposed biosecurity strategy would encompass and build on existing strategies and address other invasive species categories, such as invertebrates, fungi and pathogens, and prioritise gaps. It is important to note that invertebrates, fungi and pathogens are often left off people's thinking, and we know how important they are. The development and implementation of these plans should manifest a partnership approach and meaningfully involve the community and the environmental sectors. The community has been arguing very strongly to have in place this strategy and an action plan, which is basically an implementation plan. We think these are important amendments, and those have been our reasons for wanting these amendments. I suspect that the government does not support this amendment, but I would like to hear from the government what it intends to do about putting in place a strategy and action plan/implementation plan.