Agreed Statement
29 April 2014
Environment ministers from across Australia
met today in Canberra to progress key environment
issues of national significance.
Following the Council
of Australian Governments' (COAG) decision
in December 2013 to streamline and refocus
its Council system, environment ministers
discussed which of the matters formerly
overseen by the Standing Council on Environment
and Water required resolution on a national
collaborative basis. Ministers agreed to
give priority to reviewing environmental
regulation.
National Review of Environmental
Regulation
Ministers agreed that
the National Review of Environmental Regulation
is an important next step in environmental
regulation reform, and supported the Review's
strategy to build on existing regulation
reform approaches currently underway across
jurisdictions.
Ministers supported
the Review's focus on identifying unworkable,
contradictory or incompatible regulation
and seeking opportunities to harmonise and
simplify regulations.
Jurisdictions have commenced,
or will shortly commence, regulatory reviews,
which could encompass opportunities for
best practice regulation, species and heritage
listing processes and simplification of
land planning including Commonwealth lands.
Jurisdictions will informally
discuss opportunities for reform of environmental
regulation within the Commonwealth, states
and territories.
Emissions Reduction
Fund
Ministers noted the
update on the development of the Emissions
Reduction Fund, including the invitation
to state and territory governments to put
forward proposals for emissions reduction
projects.
Ministers acknowledged
the importance of relevant regulatory agencies
and government departments working together
to support information sharing on the operation
of the Emissions Reduction Fund and existing
energy efficiency schemes in the Australian
Capital Territory, New South Wales, South
Australia and Victoria.
Clean Air
Ministers recognised
that while, by world standards, Australia
has very clean air, there are ongoing challenges
and that governments, business and the community
will need to be active to ensure a clean
air future. In this context, Ministers initiated
work to identify strategic priorities and
approaches as a basis for a National Clean
Air Agreement and agreed to consider working
towards finalising an agreement by 1 July
2016.
Consistent with this
approach Ministers signalled their intention
to vary the National Environment Protection
(Ambient Air Quality) Measure for particles
reflecting the latest scientific understanding
on health risks arising from particle pollution.
The Measure seeks to establish a more stringent
reporting standard for particle pollution
(PM 2.5 and PM10). An Impact Statement on
the proposed variation will be released
for public consultation following the completion
of statutory processes.
Reflecting the significance
of fine particle emissions from 'non-road
spark ignition engines' (marine engines
and garden equipment) and wood heaters,
Ministers requested finalisation, by September
2014, of Decision Regulation Impact Statements
on potential emission control options for
these sectors.
Packaging Impacts
Ministers acknowledged
the extensive consultation and engagement
that has occurred over a number of years
during the development of the Packaging
Impacts Decision Regulation Impact Statement.
Business, non-government
organisations, local governments and the
community have made a significant contribution
to the most rigorous examination of packaging
waste and litter options that has been undertaken.
The
Decision Regulation Impact Statement was
assessed by the Office of Best Practice
Regulation as compliant against the COAG
best practice regulation guidelines in the
week before the meeting. Given the comprehensive
nature of the analysis and the importance
of this issue, Ministers agreed all jurisdictions
need adequate time to fully assess the Decision
Regulation Impact Statement, after which
the Decision Regulation Impact Statement
will be publicly released.
