Page 1730 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 7 June 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
These examples of the different status of birds that I have given highlight the difficulties of state-based conservation listings and point towards an argument for a national scheme as proposed by this new legislation. Common definitions and common listing processes do make good sense in this regard. The complexity of uncoordinated national and state and territory listing is administratively cumbersome, creates huge duplication of work and makes environmental planning unnecessarily complex, and all for little on-the-ground effect.
While endorsing and supporting this new legislation in principle and the implementation of the new act, we say that the standard definitions, the adoption of listings from other jurisdictions and ACT regional declarations will all need to be kept under review. We all wish to make sure there are no unintended impacts for the ACT, its planning regimes or its wildlife. In conclusion, the Canberra Liberals are pleased to support this bill today and we will, for the reasons I have outlined today, watch the implementation of this bill closely.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (11.08): Madam Speaker, as you can imagine, the Greens take a great interest in amendments to the Nature Conservation Act. It is, of course, a fundamentally important act for the protection of biodiversity here in the ACT. The Nature Conservation Act 2014 commenced on 11 June 2015, and the main object of the act is to protect, conserve and enhance the biodiversity of the territory. This is achieved by protecting, conserving, enhancing, restoring and improving habitats for native species.
The objects of the act are progressed through listing species and ecological communities that meet specific criteria as “threatened”. This assists decision-makers to put in place adequate protections, including developing conservation devices and action plans. The nature of any plans and advices and resulting management and monitoring may be determined by the listing category, amongst other things, in which the species or ecological community is assigned. Once a species has been listed on a threatened species list, it has special protection status. This provides additional protection in terms of trade restrictions, licensing offences and penalties.
World wide, many species of wildlife, both plants and animals, are in danger of extinction. Such losses of biodiversity are largely the direct or indirect result of human activities. This problem is being addressed globally and also on a regional basis. At the international level, organisations such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, better known as the IUCN, and governments of numerous countries are working to document, assess and control threats to wildlife. Australia is party to many international agreements, for example, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, aimed at achieving a global approach to conservation.
Australia has also developed national strategies for the protection of our unique flora and fauna. All states and territories provide legislative protection for the wildlife within their respective jurisdictions. Currently state, territory and Australian governments all use slightly different criteria and categories for assessing and listing threatened matters.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video