EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Amendment of the List of Exempt Native Specimens in accordance with Section 303DC

Section 303DB of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) provides for the establishment of a list of exempt native specimens. Specimens included in the list are exempt from the trade control provisions that apply to regulated native specimens.

The instrument deletes specimens from the list of exempt native specimens that are taken in four fisheries specified in Schedule 1. The instrument also includes specimens from the same four fisheries in the list of exempt native specimens, with notations that inclusion of the specimens in the list are subject to restrictions or conditions that the specimen, or the fish or invertebrate from which it is derived, was taken lawfully, and that the specimens are included in the list until the dates specified in Schedule 2.

The relevant fisheries are as follows:

        Queensland East Coast Spanish Mackerel Fishery

        Queensland Sea Cucumber Fishery (East Coast)

        Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery

        Queensland Marine Aquarium Fish Fishery

All Queensland legislation referred to in Schedule 2 to the instrument is incorporated as in force at the time this instrument commences. All Queensland legislation incorporated by reference in this instrument can be freely accessed on the following website: https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/browse/inforce (as of November 2017)

The effect of this instrument is to extend the export approval for the specimens until 30 March 2018 or while the fisheries are the subject of an approved wildlife trade operation declaration (specified in Schedule 2).

In determining to include the specimens in the list of exempt native specimens regard was had to the Australian Government’s ‘Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries – 2nd Edition.' Those Guidelines establish the criteria for assessment of the ecological sustainability of the relevant fishery’s management arrangements.

Subsection 303DC(3) of the EPBC Act provides that before amending the list, the Minister for the Environment and Energy must consult such other Commonwealth minister or ministers and such other minister or ministers of each state and self-governing territory, as the minister considers appropriate. The minister may also consult with such other persons and organisations as the minister considers appropriate. Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has been consulted and support amending the list of exempt native specimens to include product derived from these four fisheries.

This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.

The instrument commences the day after it is registered.

STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY FOR A BILL OR LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT THAT DOES NOT RAISE ANY HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Amendment of List of Exempt Native Specimens

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

The instrument deletes specimens from the list of exempt native specimens that are taken in four fisheries specified in Schedule 1. The instrument also includes specimens from the same four fisheries in the list of exempt native specimens, with notations that inclusion of the specimens in the list are subject to restrictions or conditions that the specimen, or the fish or invertebrate from which it is derived, was taken lawfully, and that the specimens are included in the list until the dates specified in Schedule 2.

The effect of this instrument is to extend the export approval for the specimens until 30 March 2018 or while the fisheries are the subject of an approved wildlife trade operation declaration (specified in Schedule 2).

Human rights implications

This Legislative Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Paul Murphy, Assistant Secretary, Wildlife Trade and Biosecurity Branch (Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Energy)