Stated purpose:
The purpose of this private senator’s bill is to establish the Coorong Environmental Trust; an independent body with the purpose of driving the restoration of flows and ecological stability within the Lower Lakes and the Coorong. The body will be shaped by a strong focus on the Ramsar principle of sustainable use.
The functions and the powers of the trust will be as follows:
to create and maintain a repository for all environmental data and research outcomes relating to the Coorong;
to prepare an annual 'State of Our Estuary' report, along with presenting an opportunity for community, policy writers and researchers to discuss outcomes;
to prepare, adopt and maintain a set of rules relating to the membership, management and operations of the trust;
to provide independent and impartial scientific advice on the state of the Coorong for all stakeholders;
to provide guidance for future environmental research within the Coorong;
to clearly monitor and document environmental flow outcomes;
to coordinate and, if necessary, implement a comprehensive water quality monitoring program;
to independently assess proposed solutions to the ecological challenges that are faced by the Coorong;
to raise money so that it can carry out its functions with financial independence; and
to perform any function assigned to the trust by regulation.
Native title implications:
The Bill proposes the appointment of a board of management of the Trust which will carry out the day to day operations and manage the Trust’s general affairs. The Bill requires that the Trust must seek to ensure, where reasonably practicable, that one director be a representative of the registered native title body corporate, the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation.
Additionally, the Bill proposes that the Trust board may appoint a suitable person who is a representative of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation to be the deputy of the above representative.
For further information see the Second Reading Speech.
Relevant provisions:
3—Interpretation
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—
Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation means the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation that is a registered native title body corporate within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth and includes its successors and assigns;
Part 3—Management of Trust
10- Board of Management
(3) The Trust must seek to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that—
(a) 1 director is a representative of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation; and
(4) The Trust board may appoint—
(a) a suitable person who is a representative of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation to be the deputy of the director referred to in subsection (3)(a);