Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 57
Division/Agency:	Land Water and Coasts Division 
Topic:	Wedge tailed eagle populations in Tasmania
Hansard Page ECITA:	72

Senator Brown asked:
I return to my question about the status of the wedge-tailed eagle, which is in some ways related to the questioning about Wielangta. ... potential for this magnificent species to go to extinction in north-east Tasmania would rise from 65 per cent to 97 per cent. What is the national government’s reaction to those very troubling statistics, which presumably, if applied to logging occurring elsewhere in Tasmania, spells curtains for the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle if something is not done to intervene?
What was the area of those reserves?
Would it be fair to say it is much, much less than one per cent of the area we are talking about?
Or of north-east Tasmania, which is generally wedge-tailed eagle habitat? Would you take that on notice?
Dr O’Connell—We will take that on notice. And then there are issues relating to the reduction in clearfelling and the reduction in clearing and conversion of forest to plantation.

Answer/s:
Wedge-tailed eagle habitat is protected by reserves and forest practice prescriptions.

Over 23,000 hectares of old growth forest in the north-east / east coast area of Tasmania are being added to reserves through the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.

The Department’s data indicate that there were 14 (28%) Wedge-tailed eagle nesting sites in reserves in the north-east in 2002.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 58
Division/Agency:	Land Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Wedge tailed eagle populations in Tasmania
Hansard Page ECITA:	73

Senator Brown asked:
It is at Gees Creek Road. Is there in place now a requirement that experts survey each curve for eagle nests before it is approached for a road?

Answer/s:
In accordance with the Recovery Plan for the Wedge-tailed Eagle 1998-2003 compiled by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE), the Forest Practices Planning process requires nest searches to be undertaken on State Forest and private land prior to logging activities, to ensure appropriate reservation and management prescriptions are applied.

DPIWE is in the process of finalising the Threatened Tasmanian Eagles Recovery Plan 2005-2009.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 59
Division/Agency:	Land Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Wedge tailed eagle populations in Tasmania
Hansard Page ECITA:	73

Senator Brown asked:
You said that 97 per cent was the maximum range of the modelling. What was the minimum range?

Answer/s:
The modelling report “Linking landscape ecology and management to population viability analysis” to which Senator Brown refers states that ‘Once the threat of human-caused mortality was included [in the risk assessment], the risk of population decline increased dramatically, resulting in an extinction risk of 62%, even in the absence of timber harvesting’.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 60
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Swift Parrot
Hansard Page ECITA:	74

Senator Brown asked:
I wanted to ask about the swift parrot, which is also, as I understand it, critically endangered. It was in flocks of many hundreds of thousands at the time of settlement and is down now to hundreds or perhaps a thousand or 2,000 at best. Can you tell the committee what its status is at the moment and what the threats to its survival are?

Answer/s:
The Swift Parrot is listed as Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The main threats to its survival include: loss and fragmentation of breeding and foraging habitat through agricultural and residential development and forestry operations; loss of nest hollows from firewood collection and from competition for hollows from introduced species; and mortality through collisions with windows, fences and vehicles.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 61
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Tasmanian Devil Disease
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Brown asked:
With the recent moves to nominate the Tasmanian Devil under both the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Threatened Species legislation, could the Minister inform the Committee what direct, hands on role the Commonwealth will be taking to ensure that this iconic Australian species does not face extinction like the thylacine?

Answer/s:
The Australian Government will be providing $2 million over two years to accelerate current research by the Tasmanian Government into the devil facial tumour disease. The Australian Government will participate with the Tasmania Government on a steering group to oversee the research effort, in the context of the state’s management plan for the disease.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 62
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Tasmanian Devil Disease
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Brown asked:
The Commonwealth Government promised $2 million dollars before the last federal election to support research efforts into the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Could the Minister inform the Committee whether those funds will be used to attract national & international scientific research inputs into this serious disease process?

Answer/s:
The funds will be used to accelerate current research by the Tasmanian Government into the Devil Facial Tumour Disease, which will include national and international scientific input. At the national level, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments will oversee the research effort in partnership with CSIRO and other scientific organisations. International input was recently sought through the 2005 Wildlife Disease Association International Conference.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 63
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Tasmanian Devil Disease
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Brown asked:
What role has the Australian Wildlife Health Network and the Commonwealth Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness Programs played in co-ordinating the response to this significant disease in a wild animal?

Answer/s:
The Australian Wildlife Health Network is providing an important avenue for communication between the devil disease project team and other animal health specialists. The Network is enabling veterinary pathologists, native wildlife specialists and other stakeholders to contribute to the disease response. The Commonwealth Wildlife Exotic Disease Preparedness Programme provides the core funding for the Australian Wildlife Health Network.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 64
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Diseases in wildlife populations
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Brown asked:
Does the Commonwealth Government see a need to provide priority investment specifically targeting new and unusual diseases occurring in wildlife populations?

Answer/s:
While wildlife conservation is principally a responsibility of state and territory governments, the Australian Government works with other stakeholders to address wildlife matters of National Environmental Significance. The Australian Government provides funding to address key threatening processes (KTP) listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Significant diseases occurring in wildlife populations that are listed as KTPs are amphibian chytrid fungus and psittacine beak and feather disease (affecting parrot species). The Australian Government is providing significant funds for research to better understand these diseases, and to support management arrangements to mitigate their impacts.

The Australian Government is also contributing $2 million over two years to help accelerate research efforts to find a cure for the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 65
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Diseases in wildlife populations
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Brown asked:
Does the Commonwealth Government see a need to monitor trends and changes in biodiversity so that new threats such as new pathogens (disease-causing agents) and introduced pest species carrying-disease are adequately addressed?

Answer/s:
The Australian Wildlife Health Network, supported by the Australian Government, aids and facilitates the detection of disease occurrences and their diagnosis.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 66
Division/Agency:	Land Water and Coasts
Topic:	Biodiversity Hotspots
Hansard Page ECITA:	80

Senator Wong asked:
Has any money been paid under the contract to date (Biodiversity Hot Spots program)?

Answer:
$4.5 million has been paid to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy for the acquisition of Brooklyn Station in far north Queensland. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage announced this funding initiative on Friday 27 May.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 67
Sub Outcome:	
Division/Agency:	Land Water and Coasts
Topic:	Biodiversity Hotspots
Hansard Page ECITA:	82

Senator Wong asked:
During discussion on the topic, Senator Wong asked about the criteria for assessing proposals to purchase properties under the biodiversity hotspots programme. Minister Campbell responded:  “We will table the Prime Minister’s announcement.”

Answer:
The Prime Ministers announcement can be found at:
http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/media_Release1084.html 

The text of the media release is attached.

Attachment
Media Releases

$36 MILLION TO MAINTAIN AUSTRALIA’S BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS

The Australian Government has demonstrated its continued commitment to the environment with the announcement today of $36 million over four years to conserve Australia’s biodiversity hotspots. 

I congratulate Senator Meg Lees for proposing this environmental conservation program to me and for playing an active role in the development of the proposal. 

The three-year hotspots programme, commencing in 2004-05, will protect and conserve Australia’s biodiversity hotspots - areas which are rich in animal and plant species and where habitats are under immediate threat. 

Through land acquisition for conservation and national biodiversity stewardship this programme will apply a range of innovative incentives for conservation on private land to conserve and protect native vegetation and endangered species. 
South Australia’s Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges will be the first ‘hotspot’ to benefit from the programme. 

The Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges supports the largest remnants of woodland vegetation communities in South Australia and is a vital refuge for many species of birds. 
$1.5 million is committed through this programme to conserve remaining vegetation and protect nationally listed birds, such as the critically endangered South Australian population of the Glossy Black Cockatoo. 

Today's announcement builds on the Government’s existing support for biodiversity hotspots. Last year the Government delivered on its election commitment in A Better Environment by announcing it had identified 15 domestic biodiversity hotspot regions and that action to conserve those hotspot regions would be supported through the Natural Heritage Trust. The $36 million committed today provides additional resources to protect Australia's biodiversity hotspots. 

This domestic initiative complements the $10 million Regional Natural Heritage Programme which aims to help protect internationally recognised hotspots in the South East Asia and Pacific regions. 

The programme also complements the $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust and the $1.4 billion National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality programmes and will draw on the regional processes already in place and the views and expertise of regional groups. 

My Government is committed to biodiversity conservation and these programmes reaffirm our domestic and international leadership in driving and investing in real gains for the environment. 

20 August 2004

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 68
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Aquatic Ecosystems
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
What proportion of Departmental resources (funding and people) is allocated to the conservation of [sic] protection of high conservation value aquatic ecosystems such as rivers, creeks and wetlands?

Answer/s:
Any number of areas within the Department may have involvement in these matters from time to time. However, Departmental records are not kept at a level of detail that allows for quantification of overall Departmental resources devoted to the conservation of rivers, creeks and wetlands.

The Inland Waters Section is the lead wetlands policy area of the Department of the Environment and Heritage and has principal carriage of wetlands issues within the Department. Within the Section, approximately six full-time equivalent staff and $350 000 of program funds per annum (2004–05 and 2005–06, from the national component of the Natural Heritage Trust’s Rivercare programme), are allocated specifically to the conservation and management of wetlands. Of these positions, two deal specifically with Ramsar wetland referrals and approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Wetland and river ecosystem conservation and management responsibilities are also spread across other work areas in the Department. These include areas that work on coastal and Queensland wetlands, migratory waterbirds, high conservation value rivers, Kakadu National Park, monitoring tropical rivers and wetlands and regional natural resource management program support for rivers and wetlands.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 69
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Ramsar Wetlands
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
What role does the Department play in the protection or conservation of Ramsar listed wetlands? Is there any specific strategy that underpins this work?

Answer:
The Department is the administrative authority responsible the Convention on Wetlands (the Ramsar Convention) in Australia. It also administers the Ramsar provisions in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Department liaises with state and territory governments and non-government organisations to coordinate a national approach to the Convention’s implementation.

The Department’s work on the Ramsar Convention is guided by the Wetlands Policy of the Commonwealth Government of Australia (1997), the Implementation Plan for the Wetlands Policy of the Commonwealth Government of Australia (1999), and the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan 2003 – 2008.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Questions No: 70 & 71
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Environmental flows into the Murray River	
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
How much funding has the Federal Government allocated over the past three years to increase environmental flows into the Murray River?

Has any additional water flowed into the Murray as a result of this funding? If not, when would you expect to see additional environmental flows, and how much additional water do you expect will go into the Murray River?

Answer/s:
The Australian Government has allocated $200 million for the implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Addressing Water Overallocation and Achieving Environmental Objectives in the Murray-Darling Basin.
In addition, some of the Australian Government’s general financial contribution to the work of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission will be spent on environmental flow-related work. 
Activities have commenced to enable additional water to flow into the River Murray. In November 2004, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council agreed to an initial four proposals to recover water for environmental flows for the River Murray. The four projects, two in Victoria and two in New South Wales, will recover up to 240 gigalitres of water per annum. Increased flow as a result of these projects is likely to occur from 2006-07. 
The Murray Darling Basin Commission is also providing $1 million for feasibility studies to investigate and further progress development of projects to recover additional water.
The Australian Government was disappointed with the outcome of the April 2005 Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting, where New South Wales and Victoria blocked the planned increases to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission budget.
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission has advised that approximately $12m worth of programs and projects will be delayed or reduced in scope to meet the budget requirements.

Outcome:	1. Environment	Questions No: 72, 73, 74 & 75
Division/Agency:	Land, Water and Coasts Division
Topic:	Environmental flows into the Murray River	
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Wong asked:
Are you aware of a report that was presented to the 26 March 2004 meeting of the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council on managing risks to shared water resources?
That report suggests that if a “business as usual” approach was taken to climate change, reforestation, groundwater use, farm dams, bushfires and return flows from irrigation, the potential reduction in river flows could be up to 2 000 giga-litres each year after 20 years.
What is the Government doing to address those risks?
In particular, what is the Government doing to reduce the risk of and prepare for the impact of climate change on the Murray River and our other major river systems?

Answer/s:
Yes. A verbal report on managing risks to shared water resources was presented to the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council on 26 March 2004. The figures provided were preliminary estimates.

The Australian Government, in consultation with the Murray Darling Basin Commission and its partner jurisdictions, is actively working to examine and address the risks to the shared water resources. 

Further research on the likely effect of climate change on streamflow in the Murray-Darling Basin is planned. The Australian Government is also supporting research through the Australian Climate Change Science Programme, to improve our understanding of how and when Australia’s climate will change. The CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Programme has a focus on research to support a healthy working River Murray. 

Risk to surface and groundwater resources is also being more broadly addressed through the National Water Initiative Intergovernmental Agreement. This establishes the framework for assigning risks, including risks arising from natural events and those related to policy changes. 
The Australian Government was disappointed with the outcome of the April 2005 Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting, where New South Wales and Victoria blocked the planned increases to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission budget.
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission has advised that approximately $12m worth of programs and projects will be delayed or reduced in scope to meet the budget requirements.