Targeted compliance

Targets

Actions

Action 3.1

Develop and publish a Dynamic Compliance Prioritisation Framework which will outline ESR’s compliance approach and will be informed by the following:

• Annual Strategic Compliance Priorities
• Compliance prioritisation inputs—Compliance Prioritisation Model (CPM), Unplanned Compliance Events (UCEs), intelligence reports
• Targeted compliance projects
• Reef Compliance Strategy.

Status: Ongoing

• Information about our compliance and enforcement framework is published online.
• The framework is adaptable and facilitates the department to implement a risk-based regulatory approach that focuses on environmental harm and serious non-compliance.
• Our ongoing compliance work continues to be informed by community, industry and scientific intelligence
• Annual Strategic Compliance Priorities provide a targeted and transparent approach to compliance where there is a focus on reducing risks to the environment and advise regulated operators about what to expect.
• Our Annual strategic compliance priorities 2022–2023 (PDF, 253KB) include waste, petroleum and gas and the Great Barrier Reef.
• Regional compliance teams utilise the compliance prioritisation model to inform regional compliance work programs.

Action 3.2

Deliver an enhanced intelligence and science-based assessment capability to inform risk, this will include:

• strategic and operational intelligence assessment and reporting
• enhanced information sharing between agencies
• enhanced information collection, storage and access.

Status: Ongoing

• We have strong processes and systems in place for gathering information and intelligence on activities to inform compliance including a dedicated intelligence team.
• We have delivered internal system improvements, including enhanced reporting and staff development to support our intelligence capability.

Action 3.3

Deliver compliance and educational activities in relation to Reef protection regulations as outlined in the Reef Compliance Strategy.

Status: In progress

• We are committed to ensuring that industries and businesses in the six Great Barrier Reef regions comply with the regulated Great Barrier Reef protection measures to drive water quality improvements in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
• We continue to expand our dedicated agricultural compliance program and the Great Barrier Reef is one of our three Annual strategic compliance priorities 2022–2023 (PDF, 253KB).
• The Compliance and Enforcement Strategy: Reef protection regulations sets out our compliance approach and priority for compliance activities to inform and enable voluntary compliance and detect and deter non-compliance.

Action 3.4

Improve reporting on compliance outcomes to build the trust and respect of industry and the community through improved transparency:

• publish enforcement notices on the public register portal
• promote to the public opportunities to report illegal activities through the pollution hotline.

Status: Ongoing

• Through the online Public Register Portal (Environmental Protection Act 1994), people can search, view and download the following statutory enforcement notices:
• accepted enforceable undertakings
• transitional environmental programs
• environmental protection orders
• environmental evaluations
• direction notices
• clean-up notices
• cost recovery notices.
• Work has continued on the development of our social media presence and encouraging members of the public to report incidents or illegal activities through the pollution hotline. This has been reinforced by publishing content in relation to compliance outcomes as a result of community reports.
• We also provide updates on compliance outcomes through our Regulatory Update newsletters to keep the community aware of important compliance and enforcement information.

Action 3.5

Better utilise a range of technologies to support compliance:

• improve the use of geospatial systems and technologies including geographic information systems (GIS) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS)
• develop a departmental surveillance capability, through additional technology, equipment and training including remote sensing, use of drones and other emerging technologies.

(Links to Action 5.1)

Status: Ongoing

• We continue to expand our use of remote sensing, drones and other emerging technologies in our regulatory activities.
• Our Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) capability is used in a variety of applications, such as undertaking volumetric surveys at landfills to confirm the integrity of the Queensland waste levy framework. We are also establishing a dedicated RPAS pilot team.
• As part of our response to New Chum Odour issues, we provided air quality monitoring devices to a number of households in the area. This community monitoring includes hydrogen sulfide monitoring and the deployment of air sampling canisters that sample up to 74 different types of chemical compounds.

Action 3.6

Deliver a ‘beyond compliance’ recognition framework and partner with industry and the community to acknowledge excellent compliance performance.

Status: Closed

• We will no longer be progressing with a ‘beyond compliance’ recognition framework.
• Instead, we are focusing on strengthening our compliance framework by supporting streamlining and enhancing compliance capability.
• Since the Strategy was developed, there has also been a broader focus on operators’ Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) which has overtaken the driver for a ‘beyond compliance’ recognition framework.

Action 3.7

Continue a dedicated litigation team to support enforcement actions and prosecutions to ensure strong action is taken against illegal operators.

Status: Closed

• This action has been closed in recognition that our litigation team is an ongoing business function.