The Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Hon Andrew Powell MP, introduced the Environmental Offsets Bill 2014 on 13 February 2014. The Bill was referred to the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee in accordance with Standing Order 131. The committee will examine the policies the Bill seeks to give effect to, the Bill’s lawfulness, and the application of fundamental legislative principles, as set out in section 4 of the Legislative Standards Act 1992. The committee must report to Parliament on the Bill by 28 April 2014. About The Bill According to the Explanatory Notes, the Bill’s policy objectives are to: Facilitate a coordinated environmental offsets framework; Reduce green tape; Remove inconsistency between specific-issue offset policies; Remove duplication of environmental assessments; Provide stronger environmental outcomes through strategic offset delivery; Facilitate governance reform of the National Trust of Queensland and the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary; Clarify provisions under the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995; and Make minor amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to address unintended operational problems with the application of the Act. ******Mon 24 Mar 2014 Closing date for written submissions parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/committees/AREC/inquiries/current-inquiries/21-EnvironmentalOffsets
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 07:56:08 +0000