The evidence retained by GBRMPA to demonstrate that it has

ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 57 • provides examples of matters that could be considered relevant under each discretionary consideration. Template-based permit application assessments

3.12 The permit assessment templates developed by GBRMPA incorporate

information relevant to the assessment of some discretionary considerations for routine permit applications. However, the templates do not incorporate information that is relevant to other discretionary considerations that would apply to most permit application assessments—including two of the three discretionary considerations that GBRMPA considers should be applied to all permit application assessments as outlined in paragraph 3.11. The ANAO also identified matters relating to a further four discretionary considerations or parts thereof that could be relevant to many permit application assessments see Table 3.3 on the following page.

3.13 Improvements in the coverage of discretionary considerations in the

permit assessment templates would minimise: the need for assessing officers to repetitively tailor assessments to address matters that are generally relevant; and the likelihood of relevant considerations being overlooked during assessments. The templates were last updated in March 2013. ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 58 Table 3.3: Discretionary consideration matters included in permit assessment templates Potential Matter for Discretionary Consideration relevant regulation Matter included in Permit Assessment Templates as a Discretionary Consideration? Tourism Research Harvest Fisheries Other s.37AA of GBRMP Act requirement to minimise harm to Marine Park Reg.88Ra - - Yes - Impact on public appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the Marine Park Reg.88Rb - - Yes - Eco-certification Reg.88Rb No na na na GBRMPA policiesguidelines Reg.88Rd 1 No No na Yes Approval of proposed conduct under Queensland law Reg.88Rf 2 No No No No Site management plans arrangements Reg.88Rh 3 No No No No Plans under the EPBC Act Reg.88Ri 4 No No No No Applicant’s environmental history Reg.88Rji-iii No No No No Applicant’s payment of fees penalties Reg.88Rjiv-vi Yes na na Yes Source: GBRMPA’s permit assessment templates. The rows shaded grey relate to those discretionary considerations that GBRMPA considers should form part of every permit application assessment. Note 1: Current GBRMPA policiesguidelines: Tourism—includes the Managing Tourism Permissions Policy and up to six other tourism policies and position statements; and Research—includes the Managing Scientific Research Policy and up to three other research policies, position statements and guidelines. Note 2: Relevant Queensland approvals may include: coast Marine Park permits; Marine Safety Queensland authorities; state environmental approvals; and national park permits. Note 3: GBRMPA has developed Plans of Management for Hinchinbrook, Cairns and the Whitsundays— which are common tourist areas. Note 4: Recovery plans adopted under the EPBC Act that are relevant to marine species found in the Great Barrier Reef include whales Blue, Sei, Southern Right and Humpback, marine turtles and sharks Grey Nurse, Great White, Whale. The only threat abatement relevant to the Marine Park is for the impacts of marine debris on vertebrate marine life. Wildlife Conservation Plans under the EPBC Act that are relevant to permits in the Marine Park include the Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds sourced from the Department of the Environment’s website at www.environment.gov.au [accessed 18 March 2015].

3.14 Where templates are used as the basis for permit application

assessments, GBRMPA expects assessing officers to tailor template contents or coversheets to address any relevant assessment considerations and risks to the Marine Park not canvassed in the templates. However, in practice, template