Law Reform Calendar                                                                                                          

 

Last updated: 05/01/10.  New items added since the last update are in red.

 

Proposed reform

Timeframe

Comment

Resources

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 due 12 February 2010

A draft Bill has been released for public comment by February 2010 

P&E Act review website

 

EDO summary of the review

 

EDO first submission

 

EDO second submission

Inquiry into Environmental Effects Statement Process in Victoria

 

(ENRC)

Submissions due 31 March 2010

Committee report due 30 August 2010.

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

ENRC investigation website

Victorian Parliament

Plant Biosecurity Bill Exposure Draft

Comments 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

State Planning Policy Framework review

Comments 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

National Directory for Radiation Protection draft Amendment No. 5

 

(Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency)

Submissions due 19 February 2010

The Directory provides nationally uniform requirements for the protection of people and the environment against exposure or potential exposure to radiation and for the safety of radiation sources.

http://web2.arpansa.local/Publications/drafts/dr_ndrp5.cfm

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

 

(Murray Darling Basin Authority)

 

Submissions were due 18 December 2009

Paper discusses how SDL should be set for the MDB Plan

Murray Darling Basin Authority SDL website

 

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 to be released by 30 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 but late submissions are being accepted. 

Committee to report no later than 31 December 2009.

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

ENRC inquiry page

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 due to Parliament 29 November 2009

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 due for release late 2009 (but unlikely to be released until 2010)

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

DSE Climate change website

 

EDO Submission to the climate green paper

Climate Change Bill (Vic)

 

(Vic Govt)

Release date unknown. Likely to be at the same time as or after the climate change white paper released.

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

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. Public comment sought on the draft until 12 February 2010

 

Final report now due to Govt 24 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

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

 

(Vic Govt and Federal Govt)

Public submissions closed 17 July 2009.

 

On 7 August 2009 Govt endorsed an investigation of potential minor refinements to the alignments of the transport corridors and boundary of the grassland reserves.  Affected property owners and occupiers could submit by 21 September 2009.

 

Govt is reviewing submissions and is yet to make a final decision on the alignment of transport corridors and grassland reserves.

 

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

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

 

(VEAC)

Submissions on the contents of the discussion paper were due 4 May 2009.

 

Discussion paper due for release in 2010

 

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

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.

 

Panel 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 to release early 2010

There are some specific issues regarding environmental incentives

 

Submissions can be viewed on the website

Tax reform review website

 

 

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

VCEC report sent to Treasurer on 22 July 2009.

 

Treasurer must release report and Govt response to report by 22 February 2009.

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 was due 30 November 2009 but has not yet been released

 

Submissions can be viewed on the website

VCAT review website

 

Outline of the review in the President’s speech

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)

Policy statement released 2009. Legislation due to be introduced into Parliament late 2009.

 

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

Irrigation efficiency programs report (Vic)

 

(Auditor General Vic)

Report scheduled for tabling 31 Mar 2010.

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

Auditor General 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

Hazardous waste management (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

 

 

 

Greenhouse Gas Geological Sequestration Act 2008 (Vic)

Proclaimed 29 October 2009

Act regulates the long-term underground storage of carbon dioxide. 

Discussion of the regulatory framework surrounding this issue

Parks and Crown Lands Legislation Amendment (East Gippsland) Bill 2009 (Vic)

Second reading speech in Legislative Assembly on 10 November 2009.

Bill aims to expand reserves and park in East Gippsland. 

Full text of Bill

Parks and Crown Lands Legislation Amendment (River Red Gums) Bill 2009 (Vic)

First reading in Legislative Council 12 November 2009. 

Bill expands reserves and parks in the River red Gum area; and provides for Traditional Owner majority boards of management for areas of public land. 

Full text of Bill

Electricity Industry Amendment (Premium Solar Feed-in Tarrif) Bill 2009 (Vic)

Bill passed in Legislative Council 6 November 2009. 

Bill proposes to establish a scheme whereby households who have small-scale solar photovoltaic systems receive a regular feed-in tarrif.  Aim is to reduce costs-barriers to Victorian households switching to solar energy. 

Full text of Bill

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] (CTH)

Introduced into House of Representatives 22 October 2009.  Second reading debate on 29 October 2009. 

 

Tracking for this Bill

Clean Energy Security Bill 2009 (CTH)

Introduced into House of Representatives on 14 September 2009.  Second reading debate on 19 October 2009. 

 

Tracking for this Bill


If you are aware of law reform issues that could be added to this table please email edovic (at) edo (dot) org (dot) au

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