While many permit applications are referred to QPWS offices for

ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 50 may have illegally restricted the use of part of the Marine Park by the public. In relation to the only publicly advertised application, evidence has not been retained to indicate that GBRMPA complied with its guidelines to consult with its Communications Unit on the draft text of the proposed advertisement or publish a copy of the advertisement on its website. Management of permit application processing

2.27 To manage permit application processing requirements, GBRMPA has

developed checksheets to document the completion of key processing steps from the receipt of applications to the issuing of permits to approved applicants, and the follow-up of any post-approval requirements such as the execution of deeds and submission of bonds, where applicable. The checksheets are to be completed by permit assessment officers as the application progresses and provide a sound basis for monitoring whether all relevant steps in the permit assessment process have been undertaken. However, in practice, the checksheets were generally incomplete. Of the 79 permit application assessments examined by the ANAO: • permit processing checksheets were not preparedretained for four applications examined 5.1 per cent—all of which relate to non-routine applications that involve complex processing requirements; • 42 of the 75 checksheets 56 per cent contained gaps evidencing the satisfactory processing of the permit applications by assessment officers including in relation to comments from native title bodies, referrals tofrom QPWS, further information requests and the relevance addressing of certain requirements applying to particular applications.

2.28 With the exception of research applications, the work of assessment

officers is to be reviewed within the EAP Section once the permit application assessment process is completed and prior to the preparation of the permit application assessment report. Evidence of the review is to be documented on the permit processing checksheet. While checksheets generally record the review of permit application processing, the significant gaps in the completeness of many of the certified checksheets noted above reduces the effectiveness of this review as a quality assurance tool for GBRMPA’s permit processing. ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 51 Conclusion

2.29 GBRMPA has produced a range of guidance materials to underpin its

processing of permit applications. The materials that have been produced are, however, fragmented, ambiguous in parts and do not clearly address all relevant requirements. GBRMPA should revise and finalise its application processing guidance materials—much of which is currently in draft form or overdue for a review.

2.30 The arrangements established by GBRMPA to process permit

applications are generally sound. Notwithstanding the established arrangements, sufficient evidence has not been retained by GBRMPA to demonstrate that required assessment activities were satisfactorily undertaken on all occasions. Further, the checksheets established to evidence the completion of key assessment activities were also incomplete, which increases the risk that relevant information was not obtained to inform the delegate’s decision on whether to grant or refuse a permit. The subsequent certification of incomplete checksheets within the EAP Section reduces the assurance that they provide as a quality control measure. Recommendation No.1

2.31 To improve the processing of Marine Park permit applications, the

ANAO recommends that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: a review and finalise standard operating procedures and administrative guidance for the permit application and assessment process; and b reinforce to staff the need to document whether permit application assessment requirements have been addressed. GBRMPA’s response: Agreed.