The audit was conducted in accordance with the ANAO Auditing

ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 42 • templates categorised by permit type—covering most application forms, risk assessments, assessment reports and permitspermit conditions.

2.4 Overall, the guidance materials support the assessment of permit

applications by GBRMPA staff. However, permit application assessment procedures are contained in multiple documents that do not clearly address all relevant requirements and processes. In particular, procedural documents: • are in draft form or overdue for a reviewupdate 46 , with some documentation not subject to review for up to five years; • do not address all key relevant assessment considerations—including the incorporation of risk assessments into the assessment process; and • do not indicate how assessors are to developtailor assessment reportscoversheets and permit conditions relevant to the activity recommended for approval or refusal.

2.5 To better manage the risks associated with out-of-date, ambiguous or

incomplete guidance materials for permit processing, it would be prudent for GBRMPA to streamline and consolidate content, and to clarify and expand coverage. Processing permit applications

2.6 GBRMPA and QPWS have established a joint permitting system that

allows applicants to apply for permits under Commonwealth and Queensland marine park legislation through a joint permit application and assessment process. Once an application is approved, permit holders are issued with a single permit covering the conduct or operation of the activityfacility in both the Marine Park and coast Marine Park. Under current arrangements, GBRMPA assumes the lead role in the assessment of joint permits against Commonwealth and Queensland requirements 47 with the exception of camping and education permits that are assessed by QPWS, although delegates from each jurisdiction are required to approve the permits. 46 Most GBRMPA permit assessment procedural documentation nominates a date at which time the documents are expected to be reviewed for currency. 47 The audit examined GBRMPA’s assessment of permit applications against Commonwealth requirements only. Most recreational and commercial fishing activities in the Marine Park are subject to state permits and licenses issued by Fisheries Queensland outside of the joint permitting system.