PROPOSAL:
ADVISORY PANEL AS
ADVISORY BOARD TO GOVERNMENT
4 April 2019
TALS INSTITUTE PROPOSAL: ADVISORY PANEL AS ADVISORY BOARD TO GOVERNMENT
On 4 April 2019, TALS Institute submitted a proposal to Government asking for support and funding of the Advisory Panel to enable climate recovery, productivity increase and biodiversity protection through the roll-out of large scale landscape restoration projects across Australia based on the Whole of Landscape Approach.
In addition, in our proposal:
In addition, in our proposal:
- We recommended that the Commonwealth Government appoint the Advisory Panel to become an independent advisory board to the the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy to assist the Government in meeting Australia's international obligations of biodiversity protection and CO2 reduction under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. Suggested names are 'Drought Resilience Council', 'Carbon Drawdown Council', 'Biodiversity and Carbon Drawdown Council'.
- We noted that none of the current Advisory Boards to Government appear to be advising on Best Practice Landscape Restoration and Management, that would have the effect of drawing down carbon while increasing land productivity and biodiversity, and that would assist the Australian Government to meet its duty of care to the public as well as international obligations.
- We recommended that the Government review all existing Government Advisory Boards that advise on land and water management, in particular those advising the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy on their efficiency and effectiveness in meeting Australia's international obligations in CO2 reduction and biodiversity protection.
PROPOSAL: CREATION OF
DROUGHT RESILIENCE COUNCIL
BY FUTURE DROUGHT FUND BILL 2018
25 January 2019
TALS INSTITUTE SUBMISSION: LEGISLATIVE CREATION OF A DROUGHT RESILIENCE COUNCIL
COUNCILOn 6 December 2018, the Senate referred the Future Drought Fund Bill 2018 and Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2018 (’the Bills’) to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee (‘the Senate Committee’) for inquiry and report.
The Senate Committee invited The Australian Landscape Science Institute (TALS Institute) to make a submission on the Bills.
While we support the Bills in principle, in our submission dated 25 January 2019, we proposed the legislative creation of a Drought Resilience Council, similar to the existing Whole of Landscape Landscape Advisory Panel, by the Future Drought Fund Bill 2018.
The Senate Committee invited The Australian Landscape Science Institute (TALS Institute) to make a submission on the Bills.
While we support the Bills in principle, in our submission dated 25 January 2019, we proposed the legislative creation of a Drought Resilience Council, similar to the existing Whole of Landscape Landscape Advisory Panel, by the Future Drought Fund Bill 2018.
FUTURE DROUGHT FUND BILL 2018 - SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT REJECTS TALS INSTITUTE PROPOSAL
On 8 February 2019, the Senate Committee recommended that the Future Drought Fund Bill 2018 be passed (see their Report at https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Finance_and_Public_Administration/FutureDroughtFundBills/Report).
The Senate Committee rejected the proposal by TALS institute to create a Drought Resilience Council. The Senate Committee explained its recommendations as follows:
At page 15 of the Report, the Senate Committee acknowledges TALS Institute having “recommended the establishment of a Drought Resilience Council (DRC) as a 'whole of landscape’ advisory body to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Department of the Environment and Energy. The DRC would provide advice on the development of the plan.” [emphasis added]
At page 17, the Senate Committee further notes, and then concludes: “The committee further noted that several submissions suggested an alternative approach to the consultative processes for the development of the Future Drought Fund Plan by the establishment of a permanent statutory expert advisory body to provide overarching advice on funding decisions. However, the committee considers the consultative arrangements established by the bill are appropriate as they provide greater flexibility to the government in the longer term to seek the advice of a wide range of interested stakeholders.” [emphasis added]
TALS Institute acknowledges the recommendation of the Senate Committee not to include the establishment of an Advisory Board in the Future Drought Fund Bill. We continue to support the Future Drought Fund Bill.
The Senate Committee rejected the proposal by TALS institute to create a Drought Resilience Council. The Senate Committee explained its recommendations as follows:
At page 15 of the Report, the Senate Committee acknowledges TALS Institute having “recommended the establishment of a Drought Resilience Council (DRC) as a 'whole of landscape’ advisory body to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Department of the Environment and Energy. The DRC would provide advice on the development of the plan.” [emphasis added]
At page 17, the Senate Committee further notes, and then concludes: “The committee further noted that several submissions suggested an alternative approach to the consultative processes for the development of the Future Drought Fund Plan by the establishment of a permanent statutory expert advisory body to provide overarching advice on funding decisions. However, the committee considers the consultative arrangements established by the bill are appropriate as they provide greater flexibility to the government in the longer term to seek the advice of a wide range of interested stakeholders.” [emphasis added]
TALS Institute acknowledges the recommendation of the Senate Committee not to include the establishment of an Advisory Board in the Future Drought Fund Bill. We continue to support the Future Drought Fund Bill.
