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ENVIRONMENT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2013

 

 

 

2013 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

Environment Legislation Amendment 

Bill 2013 

 

No.      , 2013 

 

(Environment) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Environment 

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 

and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975

and for related purposes 

   

   

 

 

No.      , 2013 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

i 

 

Contents 

Short title ........................................................................................... 1

 

Commencement ................................................................................. 1

 

Schedule(s) ........................................................................................ 2

 

Schedule 1--Amendments relating to approved conservation 

advice

 

3

 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

 

3

 

Schedule 2--Amendments relating to turtles and dugong

 

4

 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

 

4

 

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975

 

12

 

 

 

 

No.      , 2013 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

1 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Environment 

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 

and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975

and for related purposes 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

1  Short title 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Environment Legislation Amendment 

Act 2013

2  Commencement 

 

  This Act commences on the day after this Act receives the Royal 

10 

Assent. 

11 

   

   

 

 

2 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

No.      , 2013 

 

3  Schedule(s) 

 

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or 

repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule 

concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect 

according to its terms. 

Amendments relating to approved conservation advice  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2013 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

3 

 

Schedule 1

--

Amendments relating to 

approved conservation advice 

   

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 

1999 

1  After section 517A 

Insert: 

517B  Non-compliance with requirement to have regard to any 

approved conservation advice 

 

  If a provision of this Act requires the Minister to have regard to 

10 

any approved conservation advice, then a thing is not invalid 

11 

merely because the Minister failed, when doing the thing or 

12 

anything related to the thing, to have regard to any relevant 

13 

approved conservation advice. 

14 

2  Validation of things under the Environment Protection and 

15 

Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 

16 

(1) 

This item applies in respect of a thing under the Environment Protection 

17 

and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, to the extent that the thing 

18 

would, apart from this item, be or have been invalid because of a failure 

19 

by a person, when doing the thing or anything related to the thing, to 

20 

have regard to any relevant approved conservation advice. 

21 

(2) 

The thing is as valid and effective, and is taken always to have been as 

22 

valid and effective, as it would have been had the person, when doing 

23 

the thing or anything related to the thing, had regard to any relevant 

24 

approved conservation advice. 

25 

(3) 

All persons are, and are taken always to have been, entitled to act on the 

26 

basis that the thing is, and always has been, valid and effective as 

27 

mentioned in subitem (2). 

28 

Schedule 2  Amendments relating to turtles and dugong 

   

 

 

4 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

No.      , 2013 

 

Schedule 2

--

Amendments relating to turtles 

and dugong 

   

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 

1999 

1  Subsection 196(1) (note 1) 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

Penalty: 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

10 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

11 

units, or both. 

12 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 196F. 

13 

2  Subsection 196(3) 

14 

Repeal the subsection. 

15 

3  Subsection 196A(1) (note 1) 

16 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

17 

Penalty: 

18 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

19 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

20 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 196F. 

21 

4  Subsection 196A(3) 

22 

Repeal the subsection. 

23 

5  Subsection 196B(1) (note 1) 

24 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

25 

Penalty: 

26 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

27 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

28 

Amendments relating to turtles and dugong  Schedule 2 

   

 

 

No.      , 2013 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

5 

 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

units, or both. 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 196F. 

6  Subsection 196B(3) 

Repeal the subsection. 

7  Subsection 196C(1) (note 1) 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

Penalty: 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

10 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 196F. 

11 

8  Subsection 196C(3) 

12 

Repeal the subsection. 

13 

9  Subsection 196D(1) (note 1) 

14 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

15 

Penalty: 

16 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

17 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

18 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

19 

units, or both. 

20 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 196F. 

21 

10  Subsection 196D(3) 

22 

Repeal the subsection. 

23 

11  Subsection 196E(1) (note 1) 

24 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

25 

Penalty: 

26 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

27 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

28 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 196F. 

29 

Schedule 2  Amendments relating to turtles and dugong 

   

 

 

6 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

No.      , 2013 

 

12  Subsection 196E(3) 

Repeal the subsection. 

13  After section 196E 

Insert: 

196F  Aggravated offence--member of listed threatened species that 

is a dugong or turtle 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this Subdivision, an offence against 

section 196, 196A, 196B, 196C, 196D or 196E (the underlying 

offence) is an aggravated offence if the member to which the 

underlying offence relates is: 

10 

 

(a)  a member of a listed threatened species; and 

11 

 

(b)  a member of a species mentioned in paragraph 248(2)(f), (g) 

12 

or (h). 

13 

Note: 

Marine turtles and leatherback turtles are members of the species 

14 

mentioned in paragraphs 248(2)(g) and (h), and on the day this section 

15 

commenced, these species were listed threatened species. 

16 

 

(2)  If the prosecution intends to prove an aggravated offence, the 

17 

charge must allege the relevant aggravated offence. 

18 

 

(3)  Strict liability applies to the physical elements of circumstance, 

19 

that the member is: 

20 

 

(a)  a member of a listed threatened species; and 

21 

 

(b)  a member of a species mentioned in paragraph 248(2)(f), (g) 

22 

or (h). 

23 

Note: 

For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code

24 

14  Section 198 

25 

After "196E", insert ", 196F". 

26 

15  Subsection 211(1) (note 1) 

27 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

28 

Penalty: 

29 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

30 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

31 

Amendments relating to turtles and dugong  Schedule 2 

   

 

 

No.      , 2013 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

7 

 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

units, or both. 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 211F. 

16  Subsection 211(3) 

Repeal the subsection. 

17  Subsection 211A(1) (note 1) 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

Penalty: 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

10 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 211F. 

11 

18  Subsection 211A(3) 

12 

Repeal the subsection. 

13 

19  Subsection 211B(1) (note 1) 

14 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

15 

Penalty: 

16 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

17 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

18 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

19 

units, or both. 

20 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 211F. 

21 

20  Subsection 211B(3) 

22 

Repeal the subsection. 

23 

21  Subsection 211C(1) (note 1) 

24 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

25 

Penalty: 

26 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

27 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

28 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 211F. 

29 

Schedule 2  Amendments relating to turtles and dugong 

   

 

 

8 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

No.      , 2013 

 

22  Subsection 211C(3) 

Repeal the subsection. 

23  Subsection 211D(1) (note 1) 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

Penalty: 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

units, or both. 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 211F. 

10 

24  Subsection 211D(3) 

11 

Repeal the subsection. 

12 

25  Subsection 211E(1) (note 1) 

13 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

14 

Penalty: 

15 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

16 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

17 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 211F. 

18 

26  Subsection 211E(3) 

19 

Repeal the subsection. 

20 

27  After section 211E 

21 

Insert: 

22 

211F  Aggravated offence--member of listed migratory species that 

23 

is a dugong or turtle 

24 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this Subdivision, an offence against 

25 

section 211, 211A, 211B, 211C, 211D or 211E (the underlying 

26 

offence) is an aggravated offence if the member to which the 

27 

underlying offence relates is a member of a species mentioned in 

28 

paragraph 248(2)(f), (g) or (h). 

29 

Amendments relating to turtles and dugong  Schedule 2 

   

 

 

No.      , 2013 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

9 

 

Note: 

Dugong, marine turtles and leatherback turtles are members of the 

species mentioned in paragraphs 248(2)(f), (g) and (h), and on the day 

this section commenced, these species were listed migratory species. 

 

(2)  If the prosecution intends to prove an aggravated offence, the 

charge must allege the relevant aggravated offence. 

 

(3)  Strict liability applies to the physical element of circumstance, that 

the member is a member of a species mentioned in 

paragraph 248(2)(f), (g) or (h). 

Note: 

For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code

28  Section 213 

10 

After "211E", insert ", 211F". 

11 

29  Subsection 254(1) (note 1) 

12 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

13 

Penalty: 

14 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

15 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

16 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

17 

units, or both. 

18 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 254F. 

19 

30  Subsection 254(3) 

20 

Repeal the subsection. 

21 

31  Subsection 254A(1) (note 1) 

22 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

23 

Penalty: 

24 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

25 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

26 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 254F. 

27 

32  Subsection 254A(3) 

28 

Repeal the subsection. 

29 

Schedule 2  Amendments relating to turtles and dugong 

   

 

 

10 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

No.      , 2013 

 

33  Subsection 254B(1) (note 1) 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

Penalty: 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

units, or both. 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 254F. 

34  Subsection 254B(3) 

Repeal the subsection. 

10 

35  Subsection 254C(1) (note 1) 

11 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

12 

Penalty: 

13 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

14 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

15 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 254F. 

16 

36  Subsection 254C(3) 

17 

Repeal the subsection. 

18 

37  Subsection 254D(1) (note 1) 

19 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

20 

Penalty: 

21 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--imprisonment for 2 

22 

years or 3,000 penalty units, or both; 

23 

 

(b)  in any other case--imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty 

24 

units, or both. 

25 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 254F. 

26 

38  Subsection 254D(3) 

27 

Repeal the subsection. 

28 

Amendments relating to turtles and dugong  Schedule 2 

   

 

 

No.      , 2013 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

11 

 

39  Subsection 254E(1) (note 1) 

Repeal the note, substitute: 

Penalty: 

 

(a)  in the case of an aggravated offence--1,500 penalty units; 

 

(b)  in any other case--500 penalty units. 

Note 1: 

For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 254F. 

40  Subsection 254E(3) 

Repeal the subsection. 

41  After section 254E 

Insert: 

10 

254F  Aggravated offence--member of listed marine species that is a 

11 

dugong or turtle 

12 

 

(1)  For the purposes of this Subdivision, an offence against 

13 

section 254, 254A, 254B, 254C, 254D or 254E (the underlying 

14 

offence) is an aggravated offence if the member to which the 

15 

underlying offence relates is a member of a listed marine species 

16 

mentioned in paragraph 248(2)(f), (g) or (h). 

17 

Note: 

Dugong, marine turtles and leatherback turtles are the listed marine 

18 

species mentioned in paragraphs 248(2)(f), (g) and (h). 

19 

 

(2)  If the prosecution intends to prove an aggravated offence, the 

20 

charge must allege the relevant aggravated offence. 

21 

 

(3)  Strict liability applies to the physical element of circumstance, that 

22 

the member is a listed marine species mentioned in 

23 

paragraph 248(2)(f), (g) or (h). 

24 

Note: 

For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code

25 

42  Section 528 

26 

Insert: 

27 

aggravated offence

28 

 

(a)  in Subdivision B of Division 1 of Part 13--has the meaning 

29 

given by section 196F; and 

30 

Schedule 2  Amendments relating to turtles and dugong 

   

 

 

12 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

No.      , 2013 

 

 

(b)  in Subdivision B of Division 2 of Part 13--has the meaning 

given by section 211F; and 

 

(c)  in Subdivision B of Division 4 of Part 13--has the meaning 

given by section 254F. 

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 

43  Subsection 38BA(1) (after the penalty) 

Insert: 

Note 1: 

For an aggravated offence, see also subsection 38GA(9). 

44  Subsection 38BA(1) (note) 

Omit "Note", substitute "Note 2". 

10 

45  After subsection 38BA(3) 

11 

Insert: 

12 

Increased penalty for conduct involving a turtle or dugong 

13 

 

(3A)  If: 

14 

 

(a)  a person commits an offence against subsection (3); and 

15 

 

(b)  the conduct the person engaged in that constituted the offence 

16 

resulted in the taking of or injury to an animal; and 

17 

 

(c)  the animal is a member of a protected species; and 

18 

 

(d)  the protected species is: 

19 

 

(i)  a species in the genus Dugong (dugong); or 

20 

 

(ii)  a species in the family Cheloniidae (marine turtles); or 

21 

 

(iii)  the species Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback turtles); 

22 

then the number of penalty units set out in the penalty for the 

23 

offence is tripled. 

24 

 

(3B)  If the prosecution intends to prove an offence against 

25 

subsection (3) and rely on subsection (3A), the charge must also 

26 

allege which subparagraph of paragraph (3A)(d) applies in relation 

27 

to the animal. 

28 

46  At the end of subsection 38BA(4) 

29 

Add "and paragraphs (3A)(b), (c) and (d)". 

30 

Amendments relating to turtles and dugong  Schedule 2 

   

 

 

No.      , 2013 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

13 

 

47  Subsection 38BB(1) (note) 

Repeal the note. 

48  At the end of subsection 38BB(1) 

Add: 

Note 1: 

Prohibited is defined in subsection 3(1). 

Note 2: 

For an aggravated contravention, see also subsection 38GB(6). 

49  At the end of subsection 38BB(2) 

Add: 

Note: 

For an aggravated contravention, see also subsection 38GB(6). 

50  At the end of subsection 38GA(1) 

10 

Add: 

11 

Note: 

For subparagraph (c)(i), see also subsection (9). 

12 

51  At the end of section 38GA 

13 

Add: 

14 

 

(9)  If: 

15 

 

(a)  a person commits an aggravated offence against 

16 

subsection 38BA(1) in relation to an animal because of 

17 

subparagraph (1)(c)(i) of this section; and 

18 

 

(b)  the animal is a member of: 

19 

 

(i)  a species in the genus Dugong (dugong); or 

20 

 

(ii)  a species in the family Cheloniidae (marine turtles); or 

21 

 

(iii)  the species Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback turtles); 

22 

then the number of penalty units set out in the penalty for the 

23 

aggravated offence is tripled. 

24 

 

(10)  If the prosecution intends to prove an aggravated offence and rely 

25 

on subsection (9), the charge must also allege which subparagraph 

26 

of paragraph (9)(b) applies in relation to the animal. 

27 

 

(11)  Strict liability applies to the physical element of circumstance 

28 

mentioned in paragraph (9)(b) that the animal is a member of a 

29 

species mentioned in that paragraph. 

30 

Note: 

For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code

31 

Schedule 2  Amendments relating to turtles and dugong 

   

 

 

14 

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 

No.      , 2013 

 

52  At the end of subsection 38GB(1) 

Add: 

Note: 

For subparagraph (c)(i), see also subsection (6). 

53  At the end of section 38GB 

Add: 

 

(6)  If: 

 

(a)  an individual or a body corporate contravenes 

subsection 38BB(1) or (2); and 

 

(b)  the contravention is an aggravated contravention in relation 

to an animal because of subparagraph (1)(c)(i) of this section; 

10 

and 

11 

 

(c)  the animal is a member of: 

12 

 

(i)  a species in the genus Dugong (dugong); or 

13 

 

(ii)  a species in the family Cheloniidae (marine turtles); or 

14 

 

(iii)  the species Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback turtles); 

15 

then the number of penalty units set out in the relevant penalty for 

16 

the aggravated contravention is tripled. 

17 

 

(7)  If the Authority, on behalf of the Commonwealth, intends to prove 

18 

that the person has committed an aggravated contravention and 

19 

rely on subsection (6), the Authority's application to the Federal 

20 

Court under section 61AIA in relation to the contravention must 

21 

also specify which subparagraph of paragraph (6)(c) applies in 

22 

relation to the animal. 

23 

 


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