BACKGROUND The National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (the Agreement) was entered into in 2012 between the Commonwealth of Australia and the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia (the Parties). The overarching objective of the Agreement was to strengthen the regulation of coal seam gas and large coal mining development by ensuring that future decisions are informed by improved science and independent expert advice. The Agreement facilitated the achievement of the following outcomes: 1. increased evidence supports strategic and regional management of coal seam gas and large coal mining developments and their impacts on water resources 2. strengthened scientific evidence and independent expertise informs regulatory decisions on coal seam gas and large coal mining developments that are likely to have a significant impact on water resources 3. well informed communities have greater confidence in Commonwealth and state regulation of coal seam gas and large coal mining developments. The Agreement was in effect until 30 June 2014. The resulting legislative and regulatory arrangements put in place by the Parties, to meet the outcomes of the Agreement, will ensure the objective of the Agreement has enduring effect. The Agreement required the Parties to commission and publish an independent review of the operation and achievements of the Agreement. The Independent Review of the National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining Development (the Review) dated June 2015 conducted by Mr Stephen Hunter is available on the Department of the Environment and Energy’s website: The Terms of Reference for the Review, agreed to by the Parties, were for the reviewer to report on the operation and achievement of the Agreement, including: 1. whether the objective and outcomes of the Agreement were achieved, and to what extent the Parties carried out assigned roles and responsibilities. This included how the legislative and regulatory arrangements that have been put in place ensure that future work and the objective of the Agreement continue to be met 2. to what extent the performance milestones and benchmark supported the achievement of the Agreement’s objective and outcomes. The Review included findings and recommendations addressing these topics. RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW The Commonwealth of Australia and the states of New Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria (the Parties) welcome the findings of the Review. The Parties note in particular the finding that the operation of the Agreement has strengthened the regulation of
BACKGROUND The National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (the Agreement) was entered into in 2012 between the Commonwealth of Australia and the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia (the Parties). The overarching objective of the Agreement was to strengthen the regulation of coal seam gas and large coal mining development by ensuring that future decisions are informed by improved science and independent expert advice. The Agreement facilitated the achievement of the following outcomes: 1. increased evidence supports strategic and regional management of coal seam gas and large coal mining developments and their impacts on water resources 2. strengthened scientific evidence and independent expertise informs regulatory decisions on coal seam gas and large coal mining developments that are likely to have a significant impact on water resources 3. well informed communities have greater confidence in Commonwealth and state regulation of coal seam gas and large coal mining developments. The Agreement was in effect until 30 June 2014. The resulting legislative and regulatory arrangements put in place by the Parties, to meet the outcomes of the Agreement, will ensure the objective of the Agreement has enduring effect. The Agreement required the Parties to commission and publish an independent review of the operation and achievements of the Agreement. The Independent Review of the National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining Development (the Review) dated June 2015 conducted by Mr Stephen Hunter is available on the Department of the Environment and Energy’s website: The Terms of Reference for the Review, agreed to by the Parties, were for the reviewer to report on the operation and achievement of the Agreement, including: 1. whether the objective and outcomes of the Agreement were achieved, and to what extent the Parties carried out assigned roles and responsibilities. This included how the legislative and regulatory arrangements that have been put in place ensure that future work and the objective of the Agreement continue to be met 2. to what extent the performance milestones and benchmark supported the achievement of the Agreement’s objective and outcomes. The Review included findings and recommendations addressing these topics. RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW The Commonwealth of Australia and the states of New Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria (the Parties) welcome the findings of the Review. The Parties note in particular the finding that the operation of the Agreement has strengthened the regulation of
response-independent-review.docx