Report of the Third Review of the National Environment Protection Council Acts (Commonwealth State and Territory) December 2012 National Environment Protection Council Response to the Report of the Third Review of the National Protection Council Acts
Tabled paper 599
Tabled Papers for 12th Assembly 2012 - 2016; Tabled Papers; ParliamentNT
2013-10-17
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https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C01116
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/275013
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/424650
13 National Environment Protection Council NEPC Acts Third Review 2012 and it was appropriate to amend the National Environment Protection Council Act promptly to abolish the National Environment Protection Council Service Corporation, replacing it with a fit-for-purpose modern secretariat for the National Environment Protection Council which reflects secretariat arrangements provided for other Council of Australian Governments ministerial councils. The Australian Department of Finance and Deregulation can give consideration to potential amendments of the National Environment Protection Council Act, via omnibus amendment to Commonwealth financial framework legislation, to move the functions of the National Environment Protection Council Service Corporation within the Commonwealth financial framework. This approach provides an opportunity to rapidly streamline the operation of National Environment Protection Council processes and secretariat services, with the possibility of new arrangements being in effect at the start of the 201314 financial year. On 24 August 2012 the National Environment Protection Council endorsed the Commonwealth expediting amendment to the Commonwealth National Environment Protection Council Act to improve the efficiency of National Environment Protection Council processes, principally by bringing the functions of the National Environment Protection Council Service Corporation into the Commonwealth financial framework. The review notes that the National Environment Protection Council has moved to abolish the National Environment Protection Council Service Corporation and replace it with a flexible, fit-for-purpose secretariat within the financial framework of the Commonwealth. Subject to a decision to abolish the National Environment Protection Council Service Corporation, financial reporting on National Environment Protection Measure expenditure will be via annual reporting by the Commonwealth on a special account established for the purpose of, inter alia, establishing and managing National Environment Protection Measures and covering the operating costs of the secretariat. RECOMMENDATIONS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACHIEVING NATIONALLY CONSISTENT GUIDANCE AND STANDARDS INCLUDING BEST PRACTICE MODELS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONPART 3 COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS REFORMS (3.7) Consider amendments that give effect to adopting the Council of Australian Governments decision to remove any reference to the National Environment Protection Council in the Act and replace it with references to Ministers with responsibility for environment protection.