The Committee has approached the Inquiry in a structured manner. The key elements of its approach were:
a) a discussion paper;
b) written submissions;
c) inspections;
d) research investigations; and
e) public hearings.
In accordance with the Parliamentary Committees Act 1968, a copy of any written submission, investigation or record of public hearing evidence is available on request to any member of the public (other than in special circumstances).34
Discussion Paper
The Committee prepared a Discussion Paper: Utilisation of Native Flora and Fauna - Discussion Paper, 35 with the objective of providing a focus for those wishing to make submission to the Inquiry. The Discussion Paper was published in November 1998 and made generally available through the Victorian Government's bookshop, Information Victoria. The text was also placed on the Committee's Internet Website. The Inquiry Terms of Reference and a call for submissions were included in the Discussion Paper.
The Discussion Paper provided an introductory overview of:
f) the Senate Inquiry;
g) the main types of utilisation;
h) the nature of Victoria's native flora and fauna;
i) concepts of `Environmentally Sustainable Development', economic viability, welfare, and ownership;
j) current utilisation activity in Victoria; and
k) regulatory controls in Victoria and elsewhere.
It concluded with a section on potential future directions.
An initial distribution of some 350 copies was made to those on the Committee's wide-ranging mailing list. The remainder of the 1500 copies printed were distributed in response to inquiries from interested people and organisations.
A media release was prepared and distributed to over 200 organisations, including metropolitan and regional newspapers and radio. Advertisements were inserted in the major capital city and regional dailies as well as selected local papers and the two major statewide-circulating country newspapers. The Chairman conducted a number of radio interviews. Follow-up advertisements were placed in the Age and the Weekly Times prior to the close of the submission period.
Written Submissions
A three-month submission period followed the publication of the Discussion Paper (closing on 26 February 1999).36 As at 9 June 1999, 74 written submissions had been received by the Committee. The submissions came from a relatively wide spectrum of viewpoints, with interested individuals as well as peak-body organisations and agencies contributing submissions. Submissions from individuals came from country Victoria as well as Melbourne. Many of the submissions were well researched and presented and over 25 per cent provided detailed attachments. All contained information and views of relevance to the Inquiry, and the Committee appreciates the time and effort taken by these individuals and organisations.
Table 1.1 Submissions
Source |
Number of Submissions |
Place of Origin |
|
Melbourne (includes statewide peak bodies) |
45 |
Country Victoria |
21 |
Interstate |
7 |
Overseas |
0 |
Type of Group |
|
Academic/Research Institute |
3 |
Animal Rights Group |
6 |
Catchment Management Authority |
1 |
Conservation Group |
10 |
Individual |
21 |
Interstate Government |
1 |
Industry/Commerce |
13 |
Local Government |
1 |
Recreation Group |
1 |
State Government |
2 |
Other |
9 |
A full listing of submissions is included as Appendix IV. Copies of submissions are available on request.
Inspections
The Committee considered it important to see various utilisation sectors first hand. To this end it undertook an inspection program focussing on representative operations. It also made a point of inspecting especially innovative programs, both in Australia and overseas.
The Committee visited:
l) Amsterdam - home to the world's largest wholesale flower markets;
m) Israel - whose highly competitive and technologically driven industry currently exports more Australian wildflowers than does Australia;
n) Zimbabwe - which has developed a successful and innovative program involving local communities in wildlife management by way of transfer of ownership and management responsibilities; and
o) South Australia - particularly its nature-based tourism, bushfood and kangaroo industries, its plant industry research and aquaculture activity.
The Committee also visited a number of locations throughout Victoria - the Grampians, Phillip Island and South Gippsland, Melbourne and the Dandenongs, and Inglewood. These inspections covered broad-acre flower farms, aquaculture, Aboriginal utilisation, ecotourism, bushfood production and processing, aviculture, kangaroo-meat processing, the pharmaceutical sector, wholesale and retail wildflower nurseries and eucalyptus-oil processing.
A full outline of the Committee's inspection program is included as Appendix V.
While it was not possible for the Committee to visit examples of all sectors, the inspection program enabled members to gain an appreciation of the on-ground nature of utilisation. The Committee is most appreciative of all those who so readily gave their time and knowledge to assist with the inspection program.
Research Investigations
The Committee engaged consultants to assist it with three key areas of the Inquiry. These were Ecologically Sustainable Development, Economic Viability, and Regulatory Controls. The results of these three small consultancies have been directly translated into the Discussion Paper and this Inquiry Report. The full research reports are available on request.
In addition, the Committee staff, on behalf of the Committee, collected a substantial amount of information from secondary sources. These sources included published references, Internet sites, and direct contact with relevant researchers and key personnel in agencies, organisations and businesses.
Public Hearings
A targeted series of Public Hearings was held in April and May 1999. In response to an initial review of the written submissions, the Committee invited representatives of a number of sectors to provide clarification and/or additional information. In all, 25 persons from 12 different organisations gave evidence. A full list of those who gave evidence, and their affiliation, is included as Appendix VI. All hearings were open to the public and advertised in The Age. The Hansard transcripts of the hearings are available on request.
