Action 20

The State Government’s published its Capability and Capacity for Environmental Assessment and Compliance Activities position paper on 25 March 2020.

This closes Action 20 of the Government’s Implementation Plan to determine the level of resourcing for full implementation of the existing regulatory regime, and if required, develop cost recovery to enhance environmental auditing and compliance functions of Government.

As outlined in the position paper, no changes have been proposed as the existing cost recovery mechanisms under petroleum titles and prescribed premises are sufficient for the current level of staffing required, based on current industry activity. Note that the proposed introduction of broader cost recovery under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) through separate legislative amendments, by inserting a head power for cost recovery into the EP Act and exploring models of cost recovery that will be imposed by way of regulations under the EP Act, will occur outside of the Implementation Project (see Environmental Protection Act 1986 amendments consultation).

Consultation paper, documenting the State government’s environmental auditing and compliance functions, capability, capacity and resourcing for full implementation of the regulatory regime, is under development.

Agencies responsible for government’s environmental auditing and compliance have commenced:

• evaluation of their capability, capacity and resourcing for full implementation of the existing regulatory regime; and
• investigation into possible mechanisms for cost recovery.