AREC inquiry into regulation in primary industries

Invitation for Submissions

The Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee of the Queensland Parliament has invited submissions from interested persons into methods of regulating  agriculture and resource industries. An issues paper indicates the likely focus of AREC's inquiry and makes frequent reference to the COAG agenda towards best practice regulation.

The closing date for submissions is 17 August 2012

Background to the COAG Agenda

The issues paper needs to be seen in the context of the COAG Meeting Communiqué of 13 April 2012. The Business Advisory Forum reported as follows:

Following discussions at the Business Advisory Forum, COAG agreed to progress six priority areas for major reform to lower costs for business and improve competition and productivity.  The reform priorities are:

• addressing duplicative and cumbersome environment regulation;
• streamlining the process for approvals of major projects;
• rationalising carbon reduction and energy efficiency schemes;
• delivering energy market reforms to reduce costs;
• improving assessment processes for low risk, low impact developments; and
• best-practice approaches to regulation.

As a response, COAG agreed to establish a Taskforce  to advise on measure to be taken; and the Taskforce in turn asked the Productivity Commission for a ‘preliminary high-level review’ of sixteen areas of reform that COAG had identified. The review is now published as -

COAG’s Regulatory and Competition Reform Agenda: A high level assessment of the gains, Productivity Research Paper, June 2012

At is 25 July meeting,  COAG reviewed advice form its Taskforce and the Productivity Commission Report.

COAG reiterated its commitment to reducing duplication and double-handling of environmental assessment and approval processes while maintaining high environmental standards that are risk- and outcomes-based. In line with the timing agreed at the COAG meeting in April, consultations are underway and negotiations for bilateral agreements are about to commence.

 Related documents included:

• Business Regulation and Competition Working Group Report Card on Progress of Deregulation Priorities
• Public Report to COAG on Competition Reforms under the Seamless National Economy Reforms

Presumably, AREC will consider this background in its report to the Legislative Assembly that is required by 30 November 2012.

Relevance to Surveying and Mapping Industry

An industry submission to AREC - required by 17 August 2012 - could indicate SSSI's interest in its current inquiry in the following areas:

• In dealing with development applications
• In pointing out the importance of information and the need to develop efficient information processing by humans and machines in achieving effective regulation
• In pointing out the particular importance of information about location in a variety of regulations affecting natural resources and the natural and built environments..

Mines Legislation (Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2012

Referral

On 2 August 2012, Hon Andrew Cripes MP, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, introduced the Mines Legislation (Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2012.

The Bill was referred to the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee (AREC) in accordance with Standing Order 131. The committee will now examine the policies the Bill seeks to give effect to as well as the Bill’s lawfulness and the application of fundamental legislative principles, as set out in s.4 of the Legislative Standards Act 1992.



The following documents are relevant to the Referral:

• Mines Legislation (Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2012
• Explanatory Notes to the Bill
• Submission Guidelines

AREC has announced that:the closing date for submissions is Wednesday 8 August 2012.  Dot points will be fine and it will be particularly helpful if you identify the clause, or clauses, from the Bill which your comments relate to.

The ability of a profession to change to meet the needs of the public

A fascinating read if you have the time is tracing the history of the profession through the directions governing cadastral surveys and plans in Queensland since 1847. These directions are available for DNRM on CD for those who do not have it.

I believe it is only when you understand the rules and  regulations of those whom we follow that can you truly appreciate how to apply our land tenure system and how the profession has evolved to what we have today. 

History of the profession

The directions under which surveyors practice and operate has evolved from a two page document in 1848 to 206 pages in 2012. The registrar directions for the preparation of survey plans has evolved from 2 pages in 1890 to only 118 pages.

The profession through these regulations has shown the ability over time to evolve and adapt with  changes and technology and public need. 

One example of this is the recent changes to the rules that govern survey of land fronting an ambulatory boundary in Queensland. The profession has again been tested and has come up with a solution to the change in public policy to preservation of public waterways and beaches. This will not be the last....

An interesting example of why surveyors need to set the regulations not others......

At the forefront of most in relation to surveying is accuracy. But it is surprising that the accuracy requirements for performing rural surveys has not changed since the 1898 directions to surveyors which stated a limit of error of closure of 1 link in 50 chains or 1:5000. Wages have increased since 1898 (slightly)..

Most people would say that is crazy....Surveyors measure more accurately now than they did in 1898,why haven't they changed and increased the accuracy specification to that equivalent to what is being used. Well to a surveyor like me I believe there has been no need for change as this regulation still meets the public need.

A need to organise and participate

Anticipating the public need is important in how we regulate the profession and how it remains viable.

I think there are real challenges that lay before the profession especially from the perspective of number of people who will administer land in the future. A growing need and a reduced workforce. We (the surveying profession)  need to get smarter and more efficient in the way land is managed to deal with this to meet the future 'public need'.

I hope surveyors can lead the regulatory reform that effects the Surveying profession in Queensland through recent changes in technology and public policy,  rather than being lead by those who do not have an understanding of the history and importance of the profession and our regulations to meet the needs of the public.