The State Government said today it will slash up to $50 million a year in red tape by introducing a risk-based approach to native plant protection.
Environment Minister Andrew Powell said the new laws followed a review of the previous management framework for protected plants.
Mr Powell had foreshadowed the change to existing native plant protection regulations last October when the State Government passed the Nature Conservation (Protected Plants) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013.
“The new framework allows the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to focus its efforts squarely where they are needed most – protecting our most threatened species,” Mr Powell said.
“We’ve cut the number of licences required to work with protected plants from 11 to three and we’ve extended the terms those licences may be granted for.
“We have also streamlined regulations and administration so activities like harvesting and selling native plants, flowers and seeds can be assessed and undertaken with a minimum of fuss.”
Mr Powell said the former government’s framework was built on the principle that all individual native plants needed to be regulated but “failed to deliver conservation outcomes because it was completely unworkable”.
“Under the old system no standards were set for surveys and, once completed, they didn’t need to be submitted. This was an unrealistic and ineffective approach to conservation,” he said.
“It also ignored the fact that Queensland has the richest plant diversity of any state or territory in Australia, with more than 12,800 known species of native plants.
“By taking a sensible approach and streamlining and simplifying processes that previously restricted low-risk and sustainable activities, we are creating new opportunities for the people who manage and work with our native flora.
“The new framework also underpins a concentrated effort in delivering tangible conservation outcomes for Queensland’s most threatened protected plant species.
“We estimate these measures will save up to $50 million per year by reducing full compliance costs for business and government and reducing unnecessary paperwork for businesses.
“This will create new opportunities for the plant harvesting and trade industry to showcase a greater diversity of Queensland’s native plants.”
Mr Powell said only those parts of the State designated as “high risk” would now require flora surveys to be undertaken prior to clearing, significantly reducing costs to business.
“This move significantly lifts the bar on quality and reporting and will greatly enhance our knowledge of Queensland’s native plants while delivering real savings for the Queensland economy,” he said.
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