MEDIA RELEASE
The Hon Peter Garrett MP
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

PG/407       21 December 2009      

RELEASE OF THE HAWKE REPORT
Environment Minister Peter Garrett today released the Final Report by Dr
Alan Hawke of the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
(A copy of the Hawke report can be downloaded from the review website:
www.environment.gov.au/epbc/review/index.html
<file://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/review/index.html> )
"This report has been the culmination of a huge amount of input from all
levels of government, environmental groups, businesses, academics and
members of the general public," Minister Garrett said.
There is a statutory requirement for the EPBC Act to be reviewed every 10
years.  This is the first such review, commissioned by Minister Garrett on
31 October 2008 and was conducted by Dr Hawke and a panel of experts.
"The level of the awareness and concern for the environment in the
Australian community has greatly increased in the decade since the EPBC Act
commenced operation. Australians are increasingly aware of the need to
ensure that our environment and heritage is protected, and that development
occurs in an environmentally sustainable way," Minister Garrett said.
Dr Hawke and his team received around 340 written submissions throughout
this process, from NGOs, industry bodies as well as interested individuals.
Other submissions and comments were received from research groups and
academics, individual corporations and Local, State, Territory and
Australian Government agencies.
There was extensive face-to-face consultations conducted all over Australia
and a number of workshops were also held to tap into the broadest range of
views and expertise.
Dr Hawke has prepared a comprehensive report which includes recommendations
for significant changes to the Act's operation and administration.  The
Hawke Report makes 71 primary recommendations as well as numerous
conclusions and findings of an advisory nature. 
"Dr Hawke's report examines many important and highly complex matters and
these are not matters that can be taken lightly.  The Government will give
careful consideration to the recommendations and their implications in the
coming months."
"Dr Hawke's Final Report also makes a recommendation in relation to a
proposed 'greenhouse trigger'. This recommendation has a direct bearing on
the Government's response to climate change, and to the CPRS Bill that will
be reintroduced into Parliament on 2 February 2010. "
"For this reason, I feel it is important that we make clear the Government's
policy on this recommendation now. The Government favours a market-based
system to reduce our greenhouse emissions, and for that reason if the CPRS
is passed there will be no need for a greenhouse trigger to be introduced,
even as an interim measure. This is entirely consistent with Dr Hawke's
intention."
"Additionally, the Government notes the concerns raised by Dr Hawke in
recommendation 38 in the review regarding the current mechanisms in the Act
for forest management under Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs), and is
committed to working with state governments to improve the review, audit and
monitoring arrangements for RFAs, including their timely completion, clearer
assessment of performance against environmental and sustainable forestry
outcomes, and a greater focus on compliance of RFAs in the intervening
years," Minister Garrett said.
The Government intends to use upcoming RFA renewal processes to improve the
achievement of these outcomes in future RFAs. In light of this, the
Government rejects the mechanisms proposed in recommendation 38 and does not
propose to review section 38 of the EPBC Act as it currently applies to
RFAs.
The Government recognises that the RFA's contain extensive review mechanisms
as a framework for continuous improvement and it will principally rely on
them to address the issues that Dr Hawke's review has identified.
"On the cusp of the International Year of Biodiversity is a particularly
relevant time to release this major review into the operation of the
Australian Government's primary piece of environmental legislation. The
Government will respond to all other recommendations made by Dr Hawke
towards the middle of next year."
"I'm tabling this report out of session because I think it's important
people have plenty of time to absorb the many issues and recommendations
contained in the report," Minister Garrett said.
Dr Allan Hawke has served with distinction in the Commonwealth Public
Service from 1974 to February 2006, and has participated in major inquiries
into the Public Service including the Review of Commonwealth Functions, the
Review of Commonwealth Administration and the Efficiency Scrutiny Unit.
"I want to thank Dr Allan Hawke and his team comprising the Hon Paul Stein
AM, Professor Tim Bonyhady, Professor Mark Burgman and Ms Rosemary Warnock,
for the outstanding effort that has gone into this review.   It was
important that this process sought the broadest possible range of expertise
and views.  I am confident this has been achieved". Minister Garrett said.
A copy of the Hawke report can be downloaded from the review website:
www.environment.gov.au/epbc/review/index.html