Commonwealth Numbered Acts

FISHERIES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (COOPERATIVE FISHERIES ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS) ACT 2006 (NO. 8, 2006) - SCHEDULE 1

Fisheries Administration Act 1991

1  Subsection 4(1)

Insert:

"principles of ecologically sustainable development" has the meaning given by section 6A.

2  Paragraph 6(b)

Omit “and the exercise of the precautionary principle”, substitute “(which include the exercise of the precautionary principle)”.

3  Paragraph 6(c)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

                     (c)  maximising the net economic returns to the Australian community from the management of Australian fisheries; and

4  After section 6

Insert:

6A   Principles of ecologically sustainable development

                   The following principles are principles of ecologically sustainable development :

                     (a)  decision‑making processes should effectively integrate both long‑term and short‑term economic, environmental, social and equity considerations;

                     (b)  if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation;

                     (c)  the principle of inter‑generational equity—that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations;

                     (d)  the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision‑making;

                     (e)  improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.

Fisheries Management Act 1991

5  Paragraph 3(1)(b)

Omit “and the exercise of the precautionary principle”, substitute “(which include the exercise of the precautionary principle)”.

6  Paragraph 3(1)(c)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

                     (c)  maximising the net economic returns to the Australian community from the management of Australian fisheries; and

7  After section 3

Insert:

3A   Principles of ecologically sustainable development

                   The following principles are principles of ecologically sustainable development :

                     (a)  decision‑making processes should effectively integrate both long‑term and short‑term economic, environmental, social and equity considerations;

                     (b)  if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation;

                     (c)  the principle of inter‑generational equity—that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations;

                     (d)  the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision‑making;

                     (e)  improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.

8  Subsection 4(1)

Insert:

"principles of ecologically sustainable development" has the meaning given by section 3A.