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ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AMENDMENT (COST RECOVERY) BILL 2014

 

 

 

2013-2014 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity 

Conservation Amendment (Cost 

Recovery) Bill 2014 

 

No.      , 2014 

 

(Environment) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Environment 

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

and for related purposes 

   

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

i 

 

Contents 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Schedule 1--Cost recovery

 

3

 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

 

3

 

 

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

1 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Environment 

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

and for related purposes 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

1  Short title 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Environment Protection and 

Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Cost Recovery) Act 2014

2  Commencement 

 

(1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table 

commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with 

10 

column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect 

11 

according to its terms. 

12 

   

   

 

 

2 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

Commencement information 

Column 1 

Column 2 

Column 3 

Provision(s) 

Commencement 

Date/Details 

1.  Sections 1 to 3 

and anything in 

this Act not 

elsewhere covered 

by this table 

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 

 

2.  Schedule 1 

The later of: 

(a) 1 July 2014; and 

(b) the day this Act receives the Royal 

Assent. 

 

Note:  

This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally 

enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of 

this Act. 

 

(2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. 

Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it 

may be edited, in any published version of this Act. 

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 

10 

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

11 

according to its terms. 

12 

Cost recovery  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

3 

 

Schedule 1

--Cost recovery 

   

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 

1999 

1  After subsection 91(1) 

Insert: 

 

(1A)  In the written notice of the decision, the Minister must also advise 

the person proposing to take the action that the person may elect 

under section 132B to submit an action management plan for 

approval. 

10 

Note: 

An action management plan is approved after a decision is made 

11 

approving the taking of the action. 

12 

2  After subsection 95B(1) 

13 

Insert: 

14 

 

(1A)  The designated proponent is taken not to have given the Minister 

15 

the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(b) if the required fee 

16 

has not been paid. 

17 

3  After subsection 95B(3) 

18 

Insert: 

19 

 

(3A)  The designated proponent is taken not to have given the Minister 

20 

the statement referred to in subsection (3) if the required fee has 

21 

not been paid. 

22 

4  After subsections 99(3) and 104(3) 

23 

Insert: 

24 

 

(3A)  The designated proponent is taken not to have given the Minister 

25 

the documents required under subsection (3) if the required fee has 

26 

not been paid. 

27 

5  After section 132A 

28 

Insert: 

29 

Schedule 1  Cost recovery 

   

 

 

4 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

132B  Election to have an action management plan approved after 

approval of the taking of an action granted 

 

(1)  A person proposing to take an action may, at any time before an 

approval of the taking of the action is granted under section 133, 

elect to submit an action management plan for approval. 

 

(2)  An election must: 

 

(a)  be in writing; and 

 

(b)  be given to the Minister before the Minister grants an 

approval under section 133. 

 

(3)  If, after making an election, the person (the first person) notifies 

10 

the Minister under section 156F that another person (the second 

11 

person) proposes to take the action instead, the second person may 

12 

revoke the election made by the first person under this section. 

13 

 

(4)  An election cannot be revoked once the Minister has granted an 

14 

approval under section 133. 

15 

6  Paragraph 134(3)(e) 

16 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

17 

 

(e)  if an election has been made, or is taken to have been made, 

18 

under section 132B in respect of the approval--conditions 

19 

requiring: 

20 

 

(i)  an action management plan to be submitted to the 

21 

Minister for approval, accompanied by the fee (if any) 

22 

prescribed by the regulations; and 

23 

 

(ii)  implementation of the plan so approved; and 

24 

7  At the end of subsection 134(3) 

25 

Add: 

26 

Note: 

Paragraph (e)--an election is taken to have been made if an approval 

27 

is varied to add a condition requiring an action management plan, see 

28 

subsection 143(1A). 

29 

8  After subsection 134(3C) 

30 

Insert: 

31 

Cost recovery  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

5 

 

Conditions attached under paragraph (3)(e) 

 

(3D)  When making a decision whether to approve an action 

management plan, if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds 

that the Minister does not have enough information to make a 

decision, the Minister may request the holder of the approval to 

provide specified information relevant to making the decision. 

9  After section 134 

Insert: 

134A  Inviting public comment before approving action management 

plan 

10 

 

(1)  Before approving an action management plan, the Minister may 

11 

publish: 

12 

 

(a)  the plan; and 

13 

 

(b)  an invitation for anyone to give the Minister, within 11 

14 

business days, written comments on the plan. 

15 

 

(2)  The regulations may provide for requirements relating to the way 

16 

the Minister must publish the plan and invitation to comment. 

17 

10  After subsection 143(1) 

18 

Insert: 

19 

 

(1A)  If, under paragraph (1)(c), the holder of an approval agrees to 

20 

conditions mentioned in paragraph 134(3)(e) (about an action 

21 

management plan) being added and attached to the approval, the 

22 

holder is taken to have made an election under section 132B before 

23 

the approval was granted. 

24 

 

(1B)  The holder of an approval may request the Minister, in writing, to 

25 

vary a condition attached to an approval of an action. 

26 

11  After section 143 

27 

Insert: 

28 

Schedule 1  Cost recovery 

   

 

 

6 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

143A  Variation of action management plan 

Written application required 

 

(1)  If an action management plan is a condition of an approval of an 

action, the holder of the approval may, at any time, apply to the 

Minister for a variation of the action management plan. 

 

(2)  An application for a variation must be: 

 

(a)  in writing; and 

 

(b)  accompanied by: 

 

(i)  any information or documents required by the 

regulations; and 

10 

 

(ii)  the application fee (if any) prescribed by the regulations. 

11 

Minister may approve a variation of action management plan 

12 

 

(3)  The Minister may approve a variation to an action management 

13 

plan if requested to do so. 

14 

 

(4)  When making a decision whether to vary an action management 

15 

plan, if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that the 

16 

application does not include enough information, the Minister may 

17 

request the applicant to provide specified information relevant to 

18 

making the decision. 

19 

 

(5)  If the holder of an approval applies for a variation of an action 

20 

management plan, the Minister must notify the person, in writing, 

21 

of the Minister's decision. 

22 

12  Subsection 156F(3) 

23 

Repeal the subsection, substitute: 

24 

Requirements for notice 

25 

 

(3)  A notice must: 

26 

 

(a)  include the information (if any) prescribed by the regulations; 

27 

and 

28 

 

(b)  be accompanied by the fee (if any) prescribed by the 

29 

regulations. 

30 

Cost recovery  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

7 

 

13  At the end of Part 11 of Chapter 4 

Add: 

Division 7--Miscellaneous 

170CA  Fees 

 

(1)  The Minister may, in writing, determine the amounts of fees that 

may be charged if the approach for assessing the relevant impacts 

of an action that the Minister has decided is a controlled action is: 

 

(a)  assessment by inquiry under Division 7 of Part 8; or 

 

(b)  assessment by strategic assessment under Division 1 of 

Part 10. 

10 

 

(2)  Before making a determination, the Minister must consult: 

11 

 

(a)  the person proposing to take the action; or 

12 

 

(b)  if the person proposing to take the action is not the 

13 

designated proponent--the designated proponent; or 

14 

 

(c)  if the approach is assessment by strategic assessment--the 

15 

person responsible for the adoption or implementation of the 

16 

relevant policy, plan or program; 

17 

about the amounts of fees to be charged. 

18 

 

(3)  The Minister may, in the determination made under subsection (1), 

19 

determine the way in which a fee is to be worked out. 

20 

 

(4)  A determination made under subsection (1) is not a legislative 

21 

instrument. 

22 

14  Subparagraph 496(1)(b)(iii) 

23 

Omit "environmental management plan", substitute "action 

24 

management plan". 

25 

15  After Part 19 

26 

Insert: 

27 

Schedule 1  Cost recovery 

   

 

 

8 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

Part 19A--Reconsideration of fees 

   

514Y  Applications for reconsideration of fee 

 

(1)  This section applies if a fee is worked out by a person to whom a 

function or power is delegated under section 515. 

 

(2)  If: 

 

(a)  a method prescribed by the regulations under 

subsection 520(4C) has been used to work out a fee; and 

 

(b)  the person required to pay the fee is dissatisfied with the way 

the method was used to work out the fee; 

10 

the person may apply to the Secretary for the Secretary to 

11 

reconsider the way the method was used to work out the fee. 

12 

 

(3)  The application must: 

13 

 

(a)  be in a form prescribed by the regulations; and 

14 

 

(b)  set out the reasons for the application. 

15 

 

(4)  The application must be made within 30 business days after the 

16 

applicant is informed of the fee. 

17 

 

(5)  A person may apply only once in relation to a fee. 

18 

514YA  Reconsideration of fee 

19 

 

(1)  Upon receiving an application for reconsideration of a fee, the 

20 

Secretary must: 

21 

 

(a)  reconsider the way the method was used to work out the fee; 

22 

and 

23 

 

(b)  either: 

24 

 

(i)  confirm the fee; or 

25 

 

(ii)  work out a new fee by using the method again. 

26 

 

(2)  The person who undertakes the reconsideration must be: 

27 

 

(a)  the Secretary; or 

28 

 

(b)  an employee in the Department who: 

29 

 

(i)  was not involved in working out the fee; and 

30 

Cost recovery  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

9 

 

 

(ii)  occupies a position that is senior to that occupied by any 

person involved in working out the fee. 

 

(3)  The Secretary must give to the applicant a written notice that: 

 

(a)  states the outcome of the reconsideration; and 

 

(b)  gives reasons for that outcome. 

514YB  Deadline for reconsideration 

 

  The Secretary must undertake a reconsideration of a fee within 30 

business days after receiving an application for reconsideration. 

16  After subsection 520(4) 

Insert: 

10 

 

(4A)  The regulations may prescribe fees that are payable for services the 

11 

Minister or Secretary provides in performing functions, or 

12 

exercising powers, under this Act or the regulations. 

13 

 

(4B)  A fee prescribed by the regulations is payable to the 

14 

Commonwealth. 

15 

 

(4C)  Regulations prescribing fees may also: 

16 

 

(a)  prescribe fees in respect of: 

17 

 

(i)  a particular class of decision; or 

18 

 

(ii)  a particular class of action; or 

19 

 

(iii)  a particular class of person; and 

20 

 

(b)  prescribe 2 or more fees for the same matter; and 

21 

 

(c)  prescribe a method for working out a fee; and 

22 

 

(d)  prescribe a method for working out the refund of part of a 

23 

fee; and 

24 

 

(e)  deal with other matters, including the following: 

25 

 

(i)  specifying the way in which, and times at which, a fee is 

26 

to be paid; 

27 

 

(ii)  specifying the fees that must be paid, and by whom, in 

28 

the event of a transfer under section 145B or a change of 

29 

person proposing to take an action under section 156F; 

30 

 

(iii)  the consequences of failure to pay a specified fee; 

31 

Schedule 1  Cost recovery 

   

 

 

10 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(iv)  the circumstances in which the Minister may waive a 

fee; 

 

(v)  the circumstances in which a person is exempt from 

paying a specified fee; 

 

(vi)  the circumstances in which a fee may be refunded, in 

whole or in part. 

17  Subsection 520(5) 

Omit "Subsection (3) does", substitute "Subsections (3), (4A) and (4C) 

do". 

18  After section 521 

10 

Insert: 

11 

521A  Time does not run if all or part of fee remains unpaid 

12 

 

(1)  If: 

13 

 

(a)  one or more fees are payable in respect of a service the 

14 

Minister or Secretary provides in performing functions, or 

15 

exercising powers, under this Act or the regulations; and 

16 

 

(b)  a provision of this Act or the regulations: 

17 

 

(i)  requires or allows the Minister or Secretary to do a thing 

18 

relating to the service; or 

19 

 

(ii)  requires or allows the Minister or Secretary to do a thing 

20 

relating to the service within a particular period; and 

21 

 

(c)  all of part of a fee relating to the service remains unpaid; 

22 

then: 

23 

 

(d)  if subparagraph (b)(i) applies--the Minister or Secretary 

24 

need not do the thing until all of the required fee is paid; and 

25 

 

(e)  if subparagraph (b)(ii) applies and the period has not begun--

26 

the period does not begin until all of the required fee is paid; 

27 

and 

28 

 

(f)  if subparagraph (b)(ii) applies and the period has begun--the 

29 

period stops until all of the required fee is paid and, when 

30 

paid, begins again for the balance of the period. 

31 

 

(2)  For the purposes of paragraphs (1)(e) and (f), the day that all of the 

32 

required fee is paid is not to be counted in the relevant period. 

33 

Cost recovery  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment 

(Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 

11 

 

19  Section 528 

Insert: 

action management plan, in relation to an action, means a plan for 

managing the impacts of the action on a matter protected by a 

provision of Part 3, such as a plan for conserving habitat of a 

species. 

20  Application 

Fees 

(1) 

The amendments made by items 2 to 5, 12, 13 and 15 to 19 of this 

Schedule apply in relation to a referral of a proposal to take an action 

10 

that is received by the Minister on or after 14 May 2014 in respect of 

11 

which a service is provided on or after the day this item commences. 

12 

Action management plans 

13 

(2) 

The amendments made by items 1 and 19 of this Schedule apply in 

14 

relation to a decision on the approach to be used for assessment of the 

15 

relevant impacts of an action that is made on or after the day this item 

16 

commences. 

17 

(3) 

The amendments made by items 6 to 11, 14 and 19 of this Schedule 

18 

apply in relation to an approval, whether granted before, on or after the 

19 

day this item commences. 

20 

 


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