Law Reform Calendar                                                                                                          

 

Last updated: 30/06/10.  New items added since the last update are in red.

 

Proposed reform

Timeframe

Comment

More info and Resources

Victorian Environment Assessment Council review of remnant native veg on crown land & public authority land (VIC)

 

(VEAC)

Discussion paper released in June 2010

 

Submissions due 30 August

 

Final report due date extended to March 2011

Focus of the review is on assessing condition and contribution of these areas.

 

Submissions can be viewed on the website.

VEAC review website

Performance Benchmarking of Australian Business Regulation: Planning, Zoning and Development Assessments

 

(Productivity Commission)

Discussion paper released 21 May 2010.

 

Submissions due 16 July 2010

Inquiry into operations of the states and territories' planning and zoning systems re compliance costs for business, competition and effectiveness of cities.

 

Irrigation efficiency programs report (Vic)

 

(Auditor General Vic)

Report tabled 9 June

For information only. There is no opportunity for public submissions in Auditor-General reporting processes.

Auditor General website

Hazardous waste management (Vic)

 

(Auditor General Vic)

Report tabled 9 Jun 2010.

For information only. There is no opportunity for public submissions in Auditor-General reporting processes.

Auditor General website

 

Victoria’s natural waterways—Managing environmental and community consumption needs

 

Report due to be tabled 30 October 2010

For information only. There is no opportunity for public submissions in Auditor-General reporting processes.

Auditor General website

Urban growth boundary changes (EPBC strategic assessment and Vic UGB boundaries).

 

(Vic Govt and Federal Govt)

Public submissions closed 17 July 2009.

 

 

Minister has approved changes to the UGB and is now seeking Parliamentary ratification. Amendment VC67.

 

The Federal Govt is doing a strategic impact assessment of the urban growth boundary realignment and transport corridors under the EPBC Act.

Victorian Government UGB website

 

DPCD UGB website

 

Federal Government EPBC Act strategic assessment website

 

EDO submission

Climate Change Bill (Vic)

 

(Vic Govt)

Bill being drafted now. Introduction supposed to be July 2010 but may be delayed.

Little information about current status of the Bill, however interested people should write to DSE with their views on what the Bill should contain

DSE Climate change website

 

EDO proposal for a Climate Change Bill

Draft Western Regional Sustainable Water Strategy

(Vic Govt)

Released for public comment 17 March.

 

Submissions were due 21 June 2010

The Draft Strategy presents proposed responses to manage water resources in the Western Region for the next 50 years. Submissions from the community and general feedback will inform the Final Strategy, due for release later in 2010.

Our Water Our Future website

Coastal climate change advisory committee issues and options paper

(Vic Govt)

Submissions were due 26 April 2010.

 

Hearings commencing in July 2010

Committee is considering how planning on the coast operates and whether it can meet our needs into the future particularly in light of climate change.

DPCD website

Draft of Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework

 

(Federal Govt)

Submissions were due 31 March 2010

The draft is a strategic national policy framework, aimed at guiding management decisions that affect native vegetation in all jurisdictions and all sectors of the community

DEWHA website

 

ANEDO submission

Inquiry into Environmental Effects Statement Process in Victoria

 

(ENRC)

Submissions were due 31 March 2010 (but Committee will grant extensions on request).

Hearings being conducted now.

Committee report due 30 August 2010.

Committee seeking comments on weaknesses of Environment Impact Assessment process in Vic.

ENRC investigation website

Victorian Parliament

 

State Planning Policy Framework review

Comments were due 2 February 2010

SPPF has been modernised with new themes and an improved structure to accommodate new and emerging state policies, improve policy expression and help strengthen its links with the Local Planning Policy Framework. The restructure of the SPPF is a policy neutral translation of existing policies, removing repetition and unnecessary information.

DPCD SPPF website

Plant Biosecurity Bill Exposure Draft

Comments were due 26 February 2010

The Bill will replace the Plant Health and Plant Products Act 1995. The objectives of the Bill are to prevent plant pests and diseases from entering Victoria, prevent pests and diseases from spreading within Victoria and to assist in the market access for Victorian plants and plant products.

DPI Bill website

Planning and Environment Act review (Vic)

 

(Vic Govt)

Discussion paper released March.

 

Issues papers released 28 August for comment (no deadline but should comment ASAP before Bill is finalised)

 

Exposure draft Bill released for comment December 2009. Submissions were due 12 February 2010

 

P&E Act review website

 

EDO summary of the review

 

EDO first submission

 

EDO second submission

Sustainable diversion limits for the Murray Darling Basin Plan discussion paper.

 

(Murray Darling Basin Authority)

 

Submissions were due 18 December 2009

 

Analysis of submissions has been released

Paper discusses how SDL should be set for the MDB Plan

Murray Darling Basin Authority SDL website

 

Summary of submissions

Inquiry into streamlining local government regulation

 

(VCEC)

Submissions were due 16 November.

Draft report released for further consultation April 2010.

Final report to Government August 2010.

Limited inquiry. Focus on the administration of:

Building Act;  Planning and Environment Act; Subdivision Act; Road Management Act; Food Act; Public Health and Wellbeing Act; Environment Protection Act and local laws relating to waste management, noise and other environmental issues.

VCEC inquiry website

Inquiry into the Impact of the State Government’s decision to change the Urban Growth Boundary

 

(Parliamentary Committee)

 

Submissions were due 12 October

 

Report released 24 November 2009

 

Outer suburban/interface services and development committee of the Victorian Parliament

Enquiry into the Approvals Process for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria

 

(ENRC)

Submissions were due 15 June 2009. 

Committee reported 25 February 2010

Committee to examine ways to reduce red tape surrounding approval process for renewable energy projects in Victoria.

ENRC inquiry page

ENRC report

Soil sequestration in Victoria

 

(ENRC)

Submissions were due on Friday 4 December 2009.

Committee report due 31 August 2010.

Committee to examine the benefits, detriments and costs of Soil Sequestration plans. 

ENRC inquiry page

Inquiry into Water Licences and Rights (Cth)

 

(Senate)

Submissions were due 1 October 2009.

Committee report extended until 29 June 2010

Committee to report on the ability the Commonwealth, across state borders, to sustainably manage water resources. 

Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts

Inquiry into the impacts of mining in the Murray Darling Basin (Cth)

 

(Senate)

Submissions were due 17 September 2009. 

 

Committee reported 4 December 2009

Committee to examine, in the context of the Murray-Darling Plan, the impacts of current and projected mining operations on all environmental values in the Murray-Darling Basin. 

Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts

Proposed Forests (Licences and Permits) Regulations 2009 - Draft Exposure (Vic)

 

(DSE)

 

Submissions were due 28 Oct 2009.

 

DSE website

Climate change green paper (Vic)

 

(Vic Govt)

Green paper released in June 2009.

 

Submissions were due 30 September 2009.  Over 300 submissions were received. Submissions are not yet publicly available. 

 

White paper was due for release late 2009 (but now will be released mid 2010)

­Aimed at further developing Victoria’s response to climate change. 

DSE Climate change website

 

EDO Submission to the climate green paper

Market Mechanisms for Recovering Water in the Murray-Darling Basin

 

(Productivity Commission)

Issues paper released for comment 19 August 2009

 

Submissions were due 18 September 2009

 

Draft report released 9 December 2009.

 

Final report released 31 March 2010

 

 

Study is looking at appropriate, effective and efficient mechanisms that could be used to diversify the range of options to purchase environmental water.

 

Submissions can be viewed on the website.

Productivity Commission inquiry website

Victorian Environment Assessment Council review of public land in Metropolitan Melbourne (Vic)

 

(VEAC)

Submissions on the contents of the discussion paper were due March 2009.

Discussion paper to be released in 2010 for consultation.

Final report due date extended to May 2011

Purpose of the review is to investigate the uses condition, value etc of public land in Melbourne.

 

Submissions can be viewed on the website.

VEAC review website

EPBC Act 10 year review on the operation of the Act (Fed)

 

(Independent review panel)

Initial submissions were due 31 January 2009

 

Interim report released 29 June for public comment. Submissions were due 3 August 2009.

 

Final report and recommendations released 21 December 2009.

 

Waiting for Government response to recommendations

Submissions and interim report can be viewed on the website.

EPBC review website

 

ANEDO first submission

 

ANEDO second submission

Tax reform (Fed)

 

(Fed Govt)

Submissions were due 1 May 2009

 

Report delivered to Govt in December 2009. Govt released 2 May 2010

There are some specific issues regarding environmental incentives

 

Submissions can be viewed on the website

Tax reform review website

 

ANEDO submission

Access to Justice (Civil Litigation Reforms) Amendment Bill (Fed)

 

(Fed Senate inquiry)

Submissions were due 31 July 2009

 

Committee reported to Parliament on 17 September 2009

Submissions and final report can be viewed on the website

Senate Committee inquiry website

VCEC recommendations for environmental regulation reform (Vic)

 

(VCEC)

Submissions were due 15 May 2009

 

 

Report and Govt response to report released by 22 January 2010.

The review is looking at all aspects of environmental regulation in Victoria with a view to streamlining regulations. It specifically looks at native vegetation, EIA, & mining.

 

Submissions can be viewed on the website

VCEC inquiry website

FOI Act review (Fed)

 

(Fed Govt)

Draft bills released for public comment. Submissions closed 15 May 2009.

 

Bills were introduced into Parliament in 29 November 2009

Submissions can be viewed on the website

FOI review website

VCAT review (Vic)

 

 

(VCAT President)

Consultation paper released March 2009. Submissions were due 8 June 2009.

 

Public consultations currently being held.

 

President’s report released

 

Submissions can be viewed on the website

VCAT review website

 

Outline of the review in the President’s speech

 

President’s report

National Human Rights charter (Fed)

 

(Independent Consultation Committee)

Submissions were due 15 June 2009.

 

Committee reported to Govt on 30 September 2009. Report now available.

Submissions and final report can be viewed on the website.

 

Government response not yet released

Federal Govt human rights website

 

Human rights law resource centre

 

Human Rights Act campaign

 

ANEDO submission

 

Transport Legislation Amendment (Integration) Bill (Vic)

 

(Vic Govt)

Legisation passed by Parliament February 2010

 

Major Transport Projects Facilitation Bill introduced into Parliament August 2009 (no consultation) and in force 1 November 2009.

Bill is limited to creating overarching objectives and decision-making principles for all transport legislation. There may be some minor amendments to existing legislation.

Discussion paper and consultation conducted in 2007/08. Legislation currently being drafted. May not be any further consultation

Vic Government 2008 Statement of Intentions

 

Department of Transport -Transport legislation review website

Environmental management in Victorian parks (Vic)

 

(Auditor General Vic)

Report scheduled for tabling 30 Jun 2010.

For information only. There is no opportunity for public submissions in Auditor-General reporting processes.

Auditor General website

VicForests (Vic)

 

(Auditor General Vic)

Report scheduled for tabling 30 Jun 2010.

For information only. There is no opportunity for public submissions in Auditor-General reporting processes.

Auditor General website

Victorian Human Rights Charter review (Vic)

 

(Vic Govt)

Consultation has not yet commenced.

Report due to Parliament by October 2011

 

Victorian Human Rights Commission

Murray Darling Basin Plan

 

 

(Murray Darling Basic Authority)

Cth released a basin plan concept statement in June 2009 which outlines key issues in the development of the plan.

 

Draft plan for comment expected mid 2010

 

Plan to be in place 2011.

The Basin Plan will be a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Murray–Darling Basin.

Murray Darling Basin Authority website

NWI third biennial assessment - comprehensive review of the NWI (Vic)

 

(NWC)

Assessment in 2010-11

COAG will review the objectives and operation of the NWI in 2011 based on this review.

NWI website

 

NWI agreement clause 106

NEW LEGISLATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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