Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - section 269A - Instrument Adopting and Revoking Recovery Plans (28/07/2010) (ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, WA)

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Revoking and Adoption of State or Territory Plans as Recovery Plans

(Issued under the Authority of the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts)

 

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) places certain obligations on the Commonwealth to protect and conserve threatened species and ecological communities.

 

Subsection 269A(7) of the Act enables the Minister, by instrument in writing, to adopt as a recovery plan, a plan made by a State, a self-governing Territory or an agency of a State or self-governing Territory. 

 

Subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 provides that where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument (including rules, regulations or by-laws) the power shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

 

The purpose of this instrument is to:

 

(a) Revoke the following recovery plans (the superseded plans):

1. Robertson, P. & Cooper, P. (2000). Recovery plan for the Grassland Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis pinguicolla 2000–2004.  Unpublished report to Environment Australia, Canberra (adopted on 5 October 2001); and

2. Coates, F. (2000). Recovery Plan 2001-2005 - Borya mirabilis Churchill (Grampians Pincushion Lily).  School of Botany, La Trobe University, Victoria. (adopted on 9 March 2001).

 

(b) Adopt the following recovery plans (the adopted plans):

  1.                  Prepared by the Australian Capital Territory:
  1.       Caladenia actensis Canberra Spider-orchid recovery plan
  2.       Corunastylis ectopa Brindabella Midge-orchid recovery plan
  3.       Tympanocryptis pinguicolla Grassland Earless Dragon recovery plan
  1.                Prepared by New South Wales:
  1.       Acacia terminalis subsp. terminalis Sunshine Wattle recovery plan
  2.       Calotis moorei Moore’s Burr-daisy recovery plan
  3.       Melaleuca deanei Deane’s Paperbark recovery plan
  4.       Pomaderris cotoneaster Cotoneaster Pomaderris recovery plan
  1.             Prepared by Queensland:
  1.       Turnix olivii Buff-breasted Button-quail recovery plan
  1.              Prepared by South Australia:
  1.       Dodonaea subglandulifera Peep Hill Hop-bush recovery plan
  2.   Euphrasia collina subsp. osbornii Osborn’s Eyebright recovery plan
  3.   Prostanthera eurybioides Monarto Mintbush recovery plan
  1.                Prepared by Victoria:
  1.   Asplenium hookerianum Maidenhair Spleenwort recovery plan
  2.   Asterolasia phebalioides Downy Star-bush recovery plan
  3.   Borya mirabilis Grampians Pincushion-lily recovery plan
  4.   Brachyscome muelleroides Mueller Daisy recovery plan
  5.   Caladenia tessellata Thick-lip Spider-orchid recovery plan
  6.   Dodonaea procumbens Trailing Hop-bush recovery plan
  7.   Ixodia achillaeoides subsp. arenicola Sand Ixodia recovery plan
  8.   Lepidium aschersonii Spiny Pepper-cress recovery plan
  9.   Lepidium hyssopifolium Basalt Pepper-cress recovery plan
  10.   Lepidium monoplacoides Winged Pepper-cress recovery plan
  11.   Maireana cheelii Chariot Wheels recovery plan
  12.   Phebalium lowanense Lowan Phebalium recovery plan
  13.   Prasophyllum correctum Gaping Leek-orchid recovery plan
  14.   Prasophyllum frenchii Maroon Leek-orchid recovery plan
  15.   Prasophyllum spicatum Dense Leek-orchid recovery plan
  16.   Prasophyllum validum Sturdy Leek-orchid recovery plan
  17.   Pterostylis xerophila Desert Greenhood recovery plan
  18.   Sclerolaena napiformis Turnip Copperbur recovery plan
  19.   Senecio macrocarpus Large-fruit Groundsel recovery plan
  20.   Swainsona plagiotropis Red Swainson-pea recovery plan
  21.   Swainsona pyrophila Yellow Swainson-pea recovery plan
  22.   Thelymitra matthewsii Spiral Sun-orchid recovery plan
  1.              Prepared by Western Australia:
  1.   Caladenia caesarea subsp. maritima Cape Spider-orchid recovery plan
  2.   Eremophila resinosa Resinous Eremophila recovery plan

 

 

 

The adopted plans provide for the research and management actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, the listed threatened species in order to maximise their chances of long-term survival in nature.

 

Before the Minister may adopt a recovery plan under subsection 269A(7) of the Act, subsection 277(1) of the Act provides that the Minister must be satisfied that an appropriate level of consultation has been undertaken in making the plan and that the plan meets the requirements of section 270 of the Act.  In addition subsection 277(2) of the Act requires the Minister to obtain and consider advice from the Scientific Committee on the content of the plan. 

 

The adopted plans have been assessed and comply with section 270 of the Act and regulation 7.11 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000.  In addition, the adopted plans were placed on public exhibition and comments were invited from the public.  All comments were taken into account in making the decision to adopt the recovery plans under the Act. 

 

In accordance with subsection 277(2) of the Act, the advice of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee was also obtained on the content of the recovery plans.  The Committee advised that it recommends the plans for adoption by the Minister.

 

The adopted plans are available from the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery-list-scientific.html

or from the Community Information Unit, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601 or by phoning on 1800 803 772. 

 

The instrument revoking and adopting the recovery plans is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

 

The adopted plans commenced on the day after this instrument was registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. The revoking of the superseded plans took effect on the day after this instrument was registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

 

Overview

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 was enacted to address the protection and conservation of threatened species and ecological communities, placing obligations on the Commonwealth in this regard. Under the authority of the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts, the Act facilitates the adoption of recovery plans made by states, territories, or their agencies. The policy objective is to ensure that these plans meet the requirements of the Act and involve appropriate consultation, as mandated by sections 270 and 277 of the Act. This instrument specifically revokes two superseded recovery plans and adopts new ones prepared by various Australian states and territories. These adopted plans are intended to support the research and management actions necessary for the recovery of listed threatened species, thereby maximising their chances of long-term survival. Public consultation and scientific committee advice were integral to the adoption process, ensuring compliance with the Act and its regulations.

Scope and Application

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) governs the protection and conservation of threatened species and ecological communities in Australia, and the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts has the authority to adopt recovery plans created by states, territories, or their agencies. The Act mandates the Minister to ensure that these plans are developed through appropriate consultation and consultation with the Scientific Committee, and that they comply with the requirements outlined in the Act and associated regulations. This legislative instrument revokes two existing recovery plans and adopts new ones developed by various Australian states and territories, aimed at halting the decline and promoting the recovery of listed threatened species to ensure their long-term survival. These adopted plans have been subject to public exhibition and scientific review, and they are now available for public access via the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website or through direct contact with the Department. The revocation and adoption of these recovery plans are effective from the day after the instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the instrument are subsection 269A(7) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) and subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. Subsection 269A(7) enables the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts to adopt recovery plans made by State, Territory, or agency plans as recovery plans under the Act. Meanwhile, subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 provides that the power to make, grant, or issue any instrument, including rules, regulations, or by-laws, includes the power to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument. This instrument revokes two superseded recovery plans and adopts a series of new recovery plans, which provide for the research and management actions necessary to halt the decline of, and support the recovery of, the listed threatened species in order to maximise their chances of long-term survival in nature. The Act imposes specific obligations on the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts. Before adopting a recovery plan, the Minister must be satisfied that an appropriate level of consultation has been undertaken in making the plan and that the plan meets the requirements of section 270 of the Act (subsection 277(1)). Furthermore, subsection 277(2) of the Act requires the Minister to obtain and consider advice from the Scientific Committee on the content of the plan. In this case, the adopted plans have been assessed and comply with section 270 of the Act and regulation 7.11 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000. The adopted plans were also placed on public exhibition, and comments were invited from the public. All comments were taken into account in making the decision to adopt the recovery plans under the Act. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee advised that it recommends the plans for adoption by the Minister. For breach of the Act, various offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences may apply. However, the specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach are not stated in the instrument. Generally, breaches of the Act may be subject to civil or criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. The maximum penalties for offences under the Act may vary depending on the specific provision that has been breached. It is important to note that the actual penalties imposed in any particular case will depend on the circumstances of the offence and the discretion of the court or relevant authority.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.