Appendix 8: Operation of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 Section 61 of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 requires the Minister to prepare a report on the operation of the Act for each financial year. This section meets the reporting requirements for 2016–17. The Department submitted an annual report on Australia’s implementation of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) to the convention’s secretariat during 2016–17. The annual report is on the Basel Convention website. Operation The Act requires the import, export or transit of hazardous waste to be approved by the Minister or their delegate through a permitting system. The Act was amended in February 2017 to make minor administrative improvements and implement full cost recovery of the permitting scheme. Consequential or complementary to the amendments to the Act, in June 2017, the following were amended: Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (Decision IV/9) Regulations 1995 Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (Imports from East Timor) Regulations 2003 Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (OECD Decision) Regulations 1996 Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Regulations 1996 Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (Waigani Convention) Regulations 1999. In 2016–17, the Minister or his delegate granted 44 permits and refused one permit (this number excludes exemptions for laboratory analysis samples and permit variations). On 30 March 2017, following the amendment of the Act, the Department stopped publishing notices in the Australian Government Gazette. All notices relating to permit applications and decisions are now published on the Department’s website. Details of permit applications and decisions published in the Australian Government Gazette prior to 30 March 2017 can be found on our website. Compliance and enforcement The Department with Australian Border Force to prevent illegal exports of hazardous waste. In 2016–17, we received seven referrals from Australian Border Force, with four referred imports confirmed as containing hazardous waste. Most referrals involved small-scale exporters exporting goods to their relations. We continue to look at improving communication of the legal requirements to these small-scale exporters and their freight forwarders. Administrative Appeals Tribunal One application for a review of a decision was made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This application was discontinued. One application for review of a decision which was made in 2015–16
Appendix 8: Operation of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 Section 61 of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 requires the Minister to prepare a report on the operation of the Act for each financial year. This section meets the reporting requirements for 2016–17. The Department submitted an annual report on Australia’s implementation of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) to the convention’s secretariat during 2016–17. The annual report is on the Basel Convention website. Operation The Act requires the import, export or transit of hazardous waste to be approved by the Minister or their delegate through a permitting system. The Act was amended in February 2017 to make minor administrative improvements and implement full cost recovery of the permitting scheme. Consequential or complementary to the amendments to the Act, in June 2017, the following were amended: Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (Decision IV/9) Regulations 1995 Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (Imports from East Timor) Regulations 2003 Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (OECD Decision) Regulations 1996 Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Regulations 1996 Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (Waigani Convention) Regulations 1999. In 2016–17, the Minister or his delegate granted 44 permits and refused one permit (this number excludes exemptions for laboratory analysis samples and permit variations). On 30 March 2017, following the amendment of the Act, the Department stopped publishing notices in the Australian Government Gazette. All notices relating to permit applications and decisions are now published on the Department’s website. Details of permit applications and decisions published in the Australian Government Gazette prior to 30 March 2017 can be found on our website. Compliance and enforcement The Department with Australian Border Force to prevent illegal exports of hazardous waste. In 2016–17, we received seven referrals from Australian Border Force, with four referred imports confirmed as containing hazardous waste. Most referrals involved small-scale exporters exporting goods to their relations. We continue to look at improving communication of the legal requirements to these small-scale exporters and their freight forwarders. Administrative Appeals Tribunal One application for a review of a decision was made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This application was discontinued. One application for review of a decision which was made in 2015–16
annual-report-2016-17-appendices.docx