Disclosure log

The applicant requested copies of documents in relation to the IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 ⁰C above pre-industrial levels.

Six documents were released in part with deletions under s47F(1).

To request access to the material contact the FOI Officer.

1. The decision brief (including attachments) for the variation to EPBC 2008/4208 made on 26 October 2017.

2. Briefs that relate to revised Coastal Offset Strategy/ies provided by Inpex since 26 October 2017.

1. A copy of the Decision Brief re EPBC no. 2018/8208, excluding all attachments except the signed decision notice, signed letter to the proponent and summary of public comments.

2. Responses/ Submissions from South Australian Department of Environment and Water (DEW) to the Department of the Environment and Energy regarding EPBC no. 2018/8208.

3. Communications between the Department of the Environment and Energy and DEW regarding EPBC no. 2018/8208.

4. What additional information and/or surveys has the Department of the Environment and Energy requested RES AUSTRALIA/EBS Ecology/ to provide?

Date range: 1 July 2017 to 8 November 2019.

Key documents that show how the following figures (of $300 million, 3½ years and 1,401 days) were calculated in the Minister’s media release for the EPBC Act review on 29 October 2019 (Appendix 1) and the Minister’s op-ed in the Australian Financial Review, 3 November 2019 (Appendix 2):

• “Delays in EPBC decisions are estimated to cost the economy around $300 million a year”
• “The average approval time for a major project referred under the EPBC Act at present is estimated at 3½ years. Cutting these approval times could save business more than $300 million a year.”
• “In the past four years, 1,401 days have been spent on court cases over applications, including before the Federal Court and even the High Court.”

Note: I do not request all documents related to these statements or the media release or op-ed. I only request the key documents that show the basis for the calculation of these figures. If the figures are based on particular EPBC Act referrals or court cases, a list of the referrals or court cases would be sufficient to satisfy the request.
 

The applicant requested documents in relation to export of goods in June 2017.

Two documents were released in full. Three documents were released in part with deletions under s47F(1). One document was refused release under s37(2)(b), and s47F(1).

To request access to the material contact the FOI Officer.

Reports, briefs, Ministerial advice and correspondence produced following in or after 2014:

• Regarding investigation or assessment by the Compliance Unit of the federal Department of Environment of clearing of trees near Dartmoor-Casterton Road, between Dartmoor and Casterton, Victoria, by the Victorian Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP), ahead of prescribed burns.
• Regarding recommendations by the Compliance Unit or other officers, including but not limited to whether the clearing referred to above was found to constitute an activity significant enough to be referred under the EPBC Act, or if it constituted illegal activity, or recommendations regarding prosecution regarding this matter
• By Compliance Unit staff regarding this matter

Correspondence:

• Correspondence between the Federal Department of Environment and Energy and DELWP and/or the then Victorian Minister for Environment Lisa Neville or her office relating to the matters above.

Any documents that reference (a) travel costs incurred by the City of Sydney in 2017-18 or (b) the City of Sydney Annual Report 2017-18 or (c) claims made by the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction {the Minister) relating to travel costs incurred by the City of Sydney in 2017-18 or the City of Sydney Annual Report 2017- 18, including, but not limited to:

• correspondence between the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction and the City of Sydney
• any purported extract of the City of Sydney Annual Report 2017-18 provided by the Minister's office to the Daily Telegraph in September 2019
• any document that shows how the purported extract of the City of Sydney Annual Report 2017-18 provided by the Minister's office to the Daily Telegraph in September 2019 came into the possession of the Minister or his office
• talking points prepared by the Prime Minister's office and/or the Ministers office and/or the Minister's department for use by the Minister in the period 24-25 October 2019
• responses to media inquiries, including, but not limited to, email and text messages; and
• records of communication with the Minister and/or his office, including, but not limited to, email, text messages and messages sent using encrypted messaging apps

This request excludes duplicate documents.

The names of staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 that appear on documents captured by the request are not excluded from the request.

Under section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), HSI seeks access to the following documents dating between 1 April 2019 and 1 October 2019:

1. The brief prepared by the Department of Environment and Energy and provided to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee detailing nominations received in the 2019 round that were eligible to be considered for inclusion on the 2019 Proposed Priority Assessment List; and
2. Briefs provided to the Minister for the Environment or their office alongside the 2019 Proposed Priority Assessment List, prepared by either the Threatened Species Scientific Committee or Department of Environment and Energy; and
3. The 2019 Proposed Priority Assessment List.

* applicant noted the following on 17/10: note that HSI’s request does not intend to capture full nominations made during the 2019 round – the associated briefs will suffice.*

Under the purposes of the FOI Act, I request any documents, correspondence, meeting minutes, notes or submissions relating to Anne Pearson and her departure from the AEMC and/or preparations for her departure from the AEMC and/or negotiations for her departure from the AEMC.

• All reports and briefs circulated within the department produced by the Australian Antarctic Division that deal with the issue of Chinese bases in Antarctica within Australia’s claim.
• Limit search to between January 2018 and August 2019.