Performance criterion: Australia's biodiversity including priority threatened species, ecological communities, cetaceans and migratory species, and significant heritage places, are conserved and protected via targeted investments and collaborative partnerships

Regional Land Partnerships

In 2019–20 we procured an additional 83 projects that are delivering against the Regional Land Partnerships (RLP) program objectives. At the end of 2019–20 a total of 223 projects were delivering on the program's 6 outcomes:

1. Improving the trajectory of priority threatened species.
2. Improving the condition of threatened ecological communities.
3. Reducing threats to our Ramsar wetlands.
4. Reducing threats to our world heritage sites.
5. Improving soil, biodiversity and vegetation.
6. Increasing the capacity of our farms to adapt to climate change and evolving market demands.

We have procured services totalling $448.6 million of the $450 million available under the RLP program and engaged 50 service providers across 54 management units. Most of the procured projects are ongoing and not due to finish until June 2023. Project baselines and monitoring regimes are established and outcome reporting will occur after year 3 of the program (2021) and year 5 (2023).

Environment Restoration Fund

We contracted 45 projects under the Environment Restoration Fund in 2019–20 and are in the process of contracting a further 13 projects. Projects focus on:

• protecting threatened and migratory species and their habitat
• protecting Australia's coasts, oceans and waterways by addressing erosion, improving water quality and protecting coastal threatened and migratory species
• cleaning up, recovering and recycling waste.

Project and program outcomes will be reported at the end of the program in 2023.

Improving Your Local Parks and Environment

We managed 39 contracts that delivered against Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Program objectives. The program ended in June 2020. However, 2 projects were granted short extensions due to exceptional circumstances.

Because of the impact of COVID-19, we made an offer to grantees to extend the time frame for the completion of contracted projects to June 2021.

Communities Environment Program

A total of 1,333 projects were contracted under the Communities Environment Program, supporting community groups to address local environmental priorities and connect with their local natural environment.

Because of the impact of COVID-19, we have made an offer to grantees to extend the time frame for completion of contracted projects to June 2021. At 30 June 2020 responses were still being received and processed.

Performance criterion: Native habitat condition

Tracking change in the condition, connectivity and extent of habitats is important to determine the effectiveness of policy, regulatory and program interventions. Tracking also helps conserve native ecosystems and the species they support.

In 2019–20 we developed a baseline for measuring condition using the Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS) and the major vegetation groups (MVG) spatial layer.

The HCAS combines environmental data, remote sensing data and intact condition reference sites to provide a consistent estimate of habitat condition for all locations across Australia. The 2020 version is at 250-metre resolution. The department publishes the MVG spatial layer as part of the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) 5.1 suite of products

Table 11 shows the habitat condition baseline.

Performance criterion: Native habitat connectivity

In 2019–20 we developed an indicative baseline for habitat connectivity using the National Connectivity Index (NCI). The NCI is a multiscale index of the amount of remaining natural area, its condition and spatial separation. It is based largely on information in the extant MVG product of the NVIS.

Table 12 shows the habitat connectivity baseline.

In 2020–21 we intend to develop a significantly revised NCI product based on the HCAS to establish a repeatable time series. We expect the indicative baseline provided in Table 12 will change substantially once that work is done. For example, many of the MVGs with values of 100% might be shown to be less connected using a revised, HCAS-derived, NCI.

Performance criterion: Native habitat extent

In 2019–20 we used the HCAS and the NVIS to develop a baseline for the extent of major vegetation groups. The baseline derives percentages by calculating areas of HCAS pixels above a threshold determined by referring to NVIS extant mapping of native vegetation cover. Extant areas are compared with pre-1750 MVG areas to derive the percentages.

This differs from previous calculation methods. We used the HCAS to enable time series reporting, which was impossible under previous NVIS-only methods.

Table 13 shows the baseline for vegetation extent.

Performance criterion: Percentage of terrestrial and inland water in protected areas

Every 2 years, the Australian Government collects information on protected areas from state and territory governments and other protected area managers. This information is published in the Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD).

CAPAD 2018 includes 12,052 terrestrial protected areas covering 151.79 million hectares (19.74%) of the Australian landmass. The data are current to 30 June 2018.

Performance criterion: Threatened Bird Index improves relative to 2019–20 baseline

We have developed the Threatened Bird Index through the Threatened Species Recovery Hub under our National Environmental Science Program (NESP). The index provides an annual indicator of the change in threatened bird populations for approximately 28% of Australia's threatened bird species for which data are available. It presents data from across academia, community monitoring programs, government data sources and more to develop an index that shows population trends of monitored threatened bird species.

The Threatened Bird Index will include additional species over time as data contributors increase, and data are collected consistently and repeatedly. The baseline and trajectories are important for conservation managers and communities, and will inform policy and investment decisions. For example, the index can be used to drill down and obtain species and subspecies information. Where the trend line stabilises from a decline, we can undertake further investigation to establish if this is in response to recovery actions.

The Threatened Bird Index is available on the Threatened Species Index of Australia website.

Snapshot: Saving the Northern Corroboree Tree Frog

Percentage of natural resource management projects that demonstrate an improvement in environmental outcomes relative to the established project baseline

We are continuing to deliver natural resource management projects under the Regional Land Partnerships program, which is the Australian Government's flagship natural resource management program. Of the 200 multi-year Regional Land Partnerships projects underway, 99.5% had established a project baseline at 30 June 2020.

One project was assessed as not having an established a baseline. The project managers advised that COVID-19 restrictions had resulted in the cancellation of activities and prohibited baseline data collection.

Performance criterion: Through investment and in collaboration with others, the department contributes to building the Great Barrier Reef's resilience and capacity to respond to threats

The department's investments and collaboration in 2019–20 are contributing to the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. We continue to implement the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan.

In 2019 key actions and achievements included:

• progress in tackling outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish
• improving water quality and coastal habitats
• protecting threatened and migratory species
• addressing plastic pollution.

Partnership was central to our work. We focused on working with traditional owners to support fulfilment of their aspirations as custodians of the Reef, invested in new projects managed by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation through the Reef Trust Partnership, and celebrated 40 years of the Australian and Queensland governments' Joint Field Management Program.

In collaboration with our Reef 2050 Partners – the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Government's Office of the Great Barrier Reef – we are undertaking the first 5-yearly review of the Reef 2050 Plan. The review is being undertaken in consultation with the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee and the Reef 2050 Independent Expert Panel.

The review aims to ensure the plan continues to focus on key threats and actions to support the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. It will build on the plan's mid-term review, which was completed in 2018.

We have continued our productive engagement with the World Heritage system. In November 2019 the Australian Government submitted a State Party Report on the state of conservation of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to the World Heritage Centre. The State Party Report includes an assessment of our progress against targets in the Reef 2050 Plan.

We supported the provision of $26.25 million for Great Barrier Reef projects. An additional $58 million was allocated through the Reef Trust–Great Barrier Reef Foundation Partnership Annual Work Plan 2019–2020 to fund protection actions including:

• regional water quality programs
• crown-of-thorns starfish control
• community action planning
• a co-design framework with traditional owners.

We managed 38 projects funded under the Reef Trust and the Natural Heritage Trust (Reef 2050 Implementation) budgets. We also contracted 7 new projects under these budgets. All new projects align with the Reef Trust and Natural Heritage Trust objectives, outcomes and investment principles.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the delivery of existing projects and the design and implementation of new projects. We worked with delivery partners to ensure the continued safe delivery of existing projects and the adjustment of milestones where necessary.

Some on-ground works continued safely without major disruption, and many workshops and meetings were held by phone or video conferencing. Access was restricted to many Indigenous communities across Far North Queensland, causing delays in delivering projects in these areas. Planning for new investments continued but at a slower pace, because of the reduced capacity of delivery partners to engage.

Performance criterion: Pollutant loads

The Reef Water Quality Report Cards detail progress towards the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan targets. Progress is a result of the combined efforts delivered through Australian and Queensland government investments. The Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2017 and 2018 was released in August 2019, detailing progress from July 2017 to June 2019. The report card for 2019 is expected to be released in the second half of 2020.

Projects that delivered on-ground actions to address the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef report data to the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program. The program is funded jointly by the Australian and Queensland governments. These results are captured in the report cards.

In 2019 Australian Government Reef Trust project contributions included:

• Reverse tender pilot projects in the Wet Tropics and Burdekin regions – supported farmers covering more than 7,500 hectares of sugarcane land to reduce their nitrogen surplus (project completed).
• Reef Alliance Growing a Great Barrier Reef project – aided improved management practices across the cane, grazing, dairy, horticultural, bananas, grains and cropping industries by providing a combination of extension, training and incentives. Improved farm management practices have reduced sediment, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (a drop of around 360 tonnes leaving farms) and pesticide loads generated from broad-scale agriculture in priority Reef catchments (project completed).
• Gully and Streambank Erosion Control Program – preventing more than 37,000 tonnes per year in fine sediment from entering the Reef (9 active projects up to 2022–23).
• Project Uplift Farming Systems Initiative – under the leadership of MSF Sugar, we are working with sugar growers to improve soil health and reduce operational time and cost, while at the same time improving water quality for better Reef outcomes. In November 2019 the project reported practice change over more than 14,500 hectares, resulting in a reduction of more than 76,000 kg in anthropogenic (DIN) load, a 21 kg reduction in pesticide load and a 23,000 tonne reduction in sediment load (project active to 2022–23).

The Australian and Queensland governments are investing more than $600 million to deliver actions in the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017–22.

Further progress towards meeting the targets will be delivered through ongoing Australian Government investments including:

• additional Wet Tropics and Burdekin repeated tenders for sugarcane
• Project Uplift Farming Systems Initiative
• Trialling and uptake of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers
• Complete Nutrient Management Planning for Cane Farming
• 9 projects under the Reef Trust Gully and Streambank Erosion Control Program.

New Reef Trust investments, including those delivered under the $201 million water quality component of the Reef Trust –Great Barrier Reef Foundation Partnership grant will continue to build on this progress and contribute to achieving the intended result of a resilient Great Barrier Reef.

The water quality targets for reduction of pollutants are long-term targets – set to be achieved by 2025. Reef Water Quality Report Cards document the progress towards these on an annual basis. The 2017 and 2018 report card assessed the progress made between July 2017 and June 2018. The 2019 report card, due for release later in 2020, will assess the progress made between July 2018 to June 2019 and the cumulative reduction up to June 2019.

The Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program provides the framework for evaluating and reporting progress towards the targets. The program integrates monitoring and modelling across a range of attributes and at a range of scales including paddock, sub-catchment, catchment, regional and Great Barrier Reef-wide. The complexity of the program results in a time lag of 12 months from data capture to reporting.

Performance criterion: Australia's biodiversity, including priority threatened species, ecological communities, cetaceans and migratory species, and significant heritage places are identified, conserved and protected through regulation

The Australian Heritage Grants Program (AHG) funded 32 projects in 2019–20, 3 more than in 2018–19. We executed 32 contracts for National Heritage List place projects, with committed funding $7.4 million. Project work is scheduled to commence in 2020–21.

The Black Summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic had a direct impact on projects. In the first 2 rounds of AHG we approved variations to extend the end dates for 23 projects. These approvals will enable organisations to meet contracted project outcomes within committed grant amounts, and support AHG program outcomes.

Using administered funds from this program and following a competitive process, we executed a contract with CSIRO valued at $436,000. CSIRO will update climate vulnerability assessments for Australia's World Heritage properties and provide practical guidance on adaptation planning for property managers.

All Australian World Heritage properties are also on the National Heritage List. The guidance tools that will be tested by property managers through the CSIRO project will have wider applicability to other National Heritage places in future.

Performance criterion: Percentage of World Heritage listed properties being managed under management plans that are consistent with the management principles in the EPBC Regulations

Performance information for this measure is reported against the updated measure published in the Department of the Environment and Energy Corporate Plan 2019–20.

In 2019–20 Australia had 20 World Heritage listed properties. All World Heritage properties have management arrangements in place. Provisions in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) seek to ensure that management plans for these properties are consistent with the management principles in the EPBC Regulations.

We assessed, and subsequently approved, updated management plans for 2 World Heritage properties:

• Wet Tropics of Queensland.
• Fremantle Prison (part of the Australian Convict Sites property).

We assessed, but have not yet approved, updated management plans for 2 further sites:

• Old Government House and Domain (part of the Australian Convict Sites property).
• Old Great North Road (part of the Australian Convict Sites property).

Management planning documents for the Greater Blue Mountains and the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia are being revised.

A grant under the 2018–19 Australian Heritage Grants Program is supporting the revision of the World Heritage management plan for the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Victoria. At June 2020 the management plan was under review. A draft is expected to be available for public comment in late 2021.

The 2017 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Heritage Outlook Report assessed all Australia's World Heritage properties with natural heritage values as having effective or highly effective management arrangements in place. For assessments of all World Heritage properties see the IUCN World Heritage Outlook website. The next World Heritage Outlook report is due in late 2020.

Performance criterion: Percentage of National Heritage listed properties being managed under management plans that are consistent with the management principles in the EPBC Regulations

At 30 June 2020 there were 117 places on the National Heritage List.

The management plan for the former Fremantle Prison was assessed against the National Heritage management principles and approved.

In 2019–20 we assessed the management plans of a further 9 places against the National Heritage management principles. The places were:

• Australian Cornish Mining Sites (Burra)
• Australian Cornish Mining Sites (Moonta)
• Old Government House and Domain
• Old Great North Road
• Point Cook Air Base
• HMS Sirius
• Australian War Memorial and the Memorial Parade
• High Court National Gallery Precinct
• Batavia Shipwreck Site and Survivor Camps Area 1629 ­– Houtman Abrolhos.

At 30 June 2020 we had not finalised the reviews.

For places not entirely within a Commonwealth area, the Australian Government must use its best endeavours to ensure a management plan consistent with the National Heritage Principles is in place. In January 2019 we reported the majority of National Heritage Places were known to have management arrangements in place. In 2020–21 we will undertake an exercise to verify if these arrangements are consistent with the requirements of the EPBC Regulations.

Performance criterion: The Alligator Rivers Region remains protected from uranium mining effects consistent with statutory requirements

Performance information for this measure is reported against 2 measures published in the Department of the Environment and Energy Corporate Plan 2019–20.

Performance criterion: Number of times water quality in the Alligator Rivers Region exceeds statutory limits

Results of the Supervising Scientist's surface water chemistry monitoring program during 2019–20 showed zero exceedances of statutory limits. The results are similar to previous years. For example, concentrations of uranium in surface water downstream of the Ranger mine, Northern Territory, remained well below the limit of 2.8 µg/L (Figure 12).

Figure 12 Uranium concentration downstream from the Ranger mine, Northern Territory, 2002 to 2020

Reports for the surface water chemistry monitoring program can be found on our website.

Sampling was undertaken at 2 sites, downstream of the Ranger uranium mine, and results were reviewed by the Supervising Scientist Branch. Chemical analysis of samples was conducted by Envirolab Services. Radium-266 and total ammonia nitrogen analysis was conducted in-house by the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist.

Industry standard quality assurance and quality control practices were used to validate results.

Performance criterion: Biological community structure in the Alligator Rivers Region

The Supervising Scientist conducts annual biological community monitoring on downstream fish and macroinvertebrate communities. This year we found that data were statistically similar to previous year's data and reference sites, indicating that there was no impact on biological communities as a result of mining.

For example, Figure 13 shows paired control-exposed dissimilarity values of fish assemblages in the Mudginberri and Sandy billabongs.

Figure 13 Paired control-exposed dissimilarity values of fish assemblages in Mudginberri (exposed) and Sandy (unexposed) billabongs, Northern Territory, 1994 to 2020

Detailed data analysis for biological monitoring results is available in the Supervising Scientist Annual Reports on our website.

Performance criterion: Protect and restore water-dependent ecosystems and their functions in the Murray–Darling Basin

Restoring the hydrological regime

We managed Commonwealth environmental water to consolidate environmental outcomes achieved in previous years.

In the record-breaking dry conditions of 2019–20, Commonwealth environmental water contributed to the restoration of a range of flow components across the Murray–Darling Basin. This helped achieved environmental outcomes for native aquatic fauna such as fish, as well as vegetation communities. The outcomes achieved are considered within the context of a sustained drought in the Basin.

In 2019–20 more than 1,197 GL of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered across a range of flow components, including base flows and freshes, consistent with the Basin Plan.

The volumes of Commonwealth environmental water reported as delivered during 2019–20 are based on operational reporting provided by state-based delivery partners. These volumes are the best available. However; they are subject to minor revision by the responsible state authorities as they finalise state water accounts. Final acquitted volumes of Commonwealth environmental water delivery will be published on our website.

The analysis of hydrological data for this measure is complex and involves multiple parties. Therefore, there is a lag time of around 9 months between the end of the year and the publication of results. Data from 2019–20 will be published by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office on our website when it becomes available.

Figure 14 and Figure 15 show progress for the 5 years to 2018–19.

Figure 14 Progress towards target outcomes for base flows, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Figure 15 Progress towards target outcomes for freshes as a result of Commonwealth environmental water, 2014–15 to 2018–19

Hydrological connectivity

In 2019–20 the delivery of Commonwealth environmental water contributed to lateral and longitudinal connectivity consistent with the previous year's delivery.

In 2018–19 Commonwealth environmental water contributed to improved lateral connectivity and included 219,612 ha of lakes and wetlands (including the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth) and 26,568 ha of floodplain inundation.

In 2018–19 Commonwealth environmental water contributed to watering actions (by flow component) along approximately 14,379 km of waterway (Table 14). The outcomes achieved are considered within the context of a sustained drought in the Murray–Darling Basin.

In 2019–20 more than 685 GL of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered through the barrages to the Coorong, contributing to the export of salt from the Murray–Darling Basin.

The volumes of Commonwealth environmental water reported above as delivered during 2019–20 are based on operational reporting provided by state-based delivery partners. These volumes are the best available. However, they are subject to minor revision by the responsible state authorities as they finalise state water accounts. Final acquitted volumes of Commonwealth environmental water delivery will be published on our website.

Commonwealth environmental water has consistently contributed to the export of salt through the Murray barrages. Salt export results for 2019–20 will be reported in the 2020–21 annual report.

In 2018–19 environmental water that flowed to the Coorong contributed to the export of 228,293 tonnes of salt from the Murray–Darling Basin (Table 15 and Figure 16).

Figure 16 Modelled cumulative salt exports, Murray–Darling Basin, 2013 to 2019, including with all water, without Commonwealth environmental water (CEW) and without any environmental water (eWater)

Snapshot: Flows to Narran Lakes

Performance criterion: Australia's priority wetlands are identified, conserved and protected

Ramsar Information Sheet updates include information on the ecological character of each Ramsar site, threats to each site, management arrangements and monitoring activities.

In 2019–20, 8 Ramsar Information Sheet updates were completed, against the target of 10. Delays in completing Ramsar Information Sheet updates were due in part to delays of information from state-based site managers and in sourcing the best available scientific and monitoring data for those sites.

The updates have been submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat and will be published on our website in due course. The Ramsar sites that have updated Ramsar Information Sheets are:

• Blue Lake
• Fivebough and Tuckerbil swamps
• Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve
• Myall Lakes
• Narran Lakes Nature Reserves
• Paroo River Wetlands
• Lake Pinaroo (Fort Grey Basin)
• Cobourg Peninsula.

Monitoring data is gathered by the jurisdictional agency responsible for updating the Ramsar Information Sheet. The states are responsible for developing Ramsar Information Sheets for Commonwealth approval.

Performance criterion: Australia's biodiversity, including priority threatened species, ecological communities, cetaceans and migratory species, and significant heritage places are identified, conserved and protected through regulation.

In 2019–20, 74% of project decisions under the EPBC Act were made within statutory time frames. A total of 2,275 decisions were made, of which 593 were late. In 2018–19, 60% of decisions were made within statutory time frames. A total of 2,378 decisions were made, of which 942 were late (Figure 17).

Figure 17 Total number of Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 project decisions made on time and late, 2015–16 to 2019–20

Fore more information on referrals made under the EPBC Act see the report on the operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 .

Performance criterion: Percentage of non-compliant projects that cause unapproved environmental harm

In 2019–20 we found that 16 of 42 (38%) reviewed non-compliant projects had caused unapproved environmental harm.

We conducted 11 compliance audits that assess the approval holder's compliance with the conditions of their EPBC Act approval. We identified 4 instances of non-compliance during these audits.

In 2019–20 we received 288 annual compliance reports. Of the 233 reports that we reviewed:

• 91 cases commenced.
• 67 cases closed, of which
  • 42 commenced in 2019–20
  • 22 commenced in 2018–19
  • 3 commenced in 2017–18.

We conducted 8 site visits.

In 2019–20 we issued 5 infringement notices relating to offences that caused environmental harm.

We commenced building the capability of our staff to conduct program auditing for EPBC Act approvals. Staff have undertaken training and developed standard procedures. We planned a trial of our methodology, but COVID-19 travel restrictions inhibited our capacity to undertake field assessments. Program auditing will provide a greater assurance level of compliance with approval conditions.

Of the 474 approved actions that commenced, 40% were subject to a compliance review. Instances of non-compliance may still be under assessment following the completion of the 2019–20 program.

Where non-compliance with the conditions of the EPBC Act approval is identified, all instances are treated in accordance with the department's compliance policy.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Summer bushfires significantly affected our compliance activities. For example, they reduced a number of site inspections and audits. In response, we implemented remote auditing guidelines. This enabled us to continue compliance activities to ensure EPBC Act approval holders continue to meet the requirements under their approval.

Performance criterion: The annual radiation dose to members of the public remains below the statutory limit

Results of the Ranger mine operator's atmospheric radiation monitoring program in 2019 demonstrated that any mine-derived radiation dose to the public from radon in air was well below the statutory limit of 1 mSv. The result is similar with that of previous years.

Figure 18 shows dose estimates for the radon inhalation pathway since 2000.

Figure 18 Mine-derived radiation dose to the public at Jabiru, Northern Territory, from the radon inhalation pathway, 2000 to 2019

The Supervising Scientist monitors freshwater mussel bioaccumulation. The 2019 monitoring program demonstrated that any mine-derived radiation dose to the public from radium-226 radioactivity in mussels was very low and well below the statutory limit. The radium-226 radioactivity measured in freshwater mussels during 2019 was within the range measured in previous years and predominantly of natural origin.

Figure 19 shows radium-226 radioactivity in mussels since 2000.

Figure 19 Radium-226 radioactivity in freshwater mussels downstream of Ranger mine, Northern Territory, in 2019 , and average and range, 2000 to 2018

Performance criterion: The department's regulatory activities and policies relating to management of hazardous waste and air quality pollutants support environmental health outcomes.

In 2019, 2.497 ozone-depleting potential (ODP) tonnes of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) were imported into Australia. This compared with the import of 2.498 ODP tonnes in 2018. The limit set in legislation is 2.5 ODP tonnes and the limit under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer limit is 54 ODP tonnes.

In 2019, 29.73 tonnes of methyl bromide was imported for non-quarantine and pre-shipment purposes approved by the Montreal Protocol.

Further information is available in the report on the operation of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989.

In 2019, 7.829 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) were imported into Australia. This compared to 7.906 million tonnes CO₂e in 2018. The limit set in legislation is 8 million tonnes CO₂e, and the limit introduced in 2019 under the Montreal Protocol is 9,732,119 tonnes CO₂e.

2018 was the first year of Australia's legislated phase-down of HFC imports.

For more information see the report on the operation of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989.

The Product Emissions Standards Act 2017 and Product Emissions Standards Rules 2017 set a time frame of 60 days to make decisions in relation to applications for certification and exemptions.

In 2019–20 all decisions on exemption applications were made within the 60-day statutory time frame. The average time to make decisions was 10.5 days, an improvement on 2018–19.

No applications for certifications were made in 2019–20.

In 2019–20 we met all applicable statutory time frames under the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989, which controls the export, import and transit of hazardous waste through a permitting system.

In 2019–20 we met all statutory time frames in the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995.

In 2019–20 we carried out compliance activities under the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 and the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989.

We work with the Australian Border Force to prevent illegal exports of hazardous waste. In 2019–20 we received 5 referrals from the Australian Border Force and other government agencies. We continued to develop strategic intelligence products in relation to hazardous waste to improve our understanding of the nature and extent of hazardous waste exports.

We received 119 reports of non-compliance with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act. Of these, 103 reports were referred to compliance sections for follow-up. All allegations were assessed in accordance with the department's compliance policy to determine the most appropriate response. Responses in 2019–20 included educational engagement, site inspections and regulatory notices.

We issued 4 infringement notices. Two notices were issued to an entity found to be in possession of scheduled substances in non-refillable containers without the appropriate permit. The entity subsequently paid the notices and obtained a permit. Two notices were issued to an entity that imported bulk scheduled substances without holding an appropriate import licence and used non-refillable containers for the storage of scheduled substances.

On 27 November 2019 the Minister for the Environment commenced a proceeding in the Federal Court of Australia against an entity under the Act. The department subsequently filed for assisted dispute resolution, with mediation to occur in 2020–21.

Performance criterion: Level of chemicals or wastes of concern in the environment improves relative to baseline

The effectiveness of regulatory interventions or standards-setting in reducing exposure to chemicals and waste can be established by measuring the amounts of these substances in the environment over time.

There are established baselines in air for selected per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated flame retardants, dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (Figure 20). Chemicals of interest were selected based on considerations such as international restrictions and persistence in the environment. We conducted sampling at various locations across Australia as part of the Australian Pilot Monitoring Program (2010–2015), National Dioxins Program (2001–2004), and ad hoc environmental sampling.

Figure 20 Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-47) in air, by location, Australia, 2011–2013

Preliminary trends can be observed for some chemicals. These trends generally reflect international and national controls on these chemicals, including international phase-outs and restrictions in accordance with chemical conventions such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Future analysis of more recent air samples from 2019–20 will provide additional trend data.

Responsibility for managing chemicals and wastes is complex and rests with a range of Commonwealth, state, territory and local government agencies. We are responsible for assessment and management of chemicals and wastes in our role as the lead Australian agency for international agreements to reduce or eliminate some chemicals.

Performance criterion: Human health impacts caused by chemicals or wastes of concern in the environment

We collect information on levels of certain chemicals in humans as part of Australia's responsibilities under the global monitoring plan and under the effectiveness evaluation of the Stockholm Convention. The effectiveness of regulatory interventions or standards-setting in reducing exposure to chemicals can be established by measuring the amounts of these substances in people over time. The Department of Health has administrative responsibility for assessing any potential health impacts.

Baselines have been established in blood or urine for selected PFAS, brominated flame retardants, dioxins and furans, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, parabens, and certain plasticisers. Chemicals of interest were selected based on considerations such as international restrictions, national assessments and persistence in the environment.

These data are drawn from a range of our past activities, including the Australian Pilot Monitoring Program (2010–2015), National Dioxins Program (2001–2004) and ad hoc sampling.

Trends are available for PFAS and brominated flame retardants. Trends generally reflect international and national controls on these chemicals. An example is the significant decline in human blood of certain internationally restricted PFAS, such as PFOS and PFOA, and brominated flame retardants such as penta-BDE (Figure 21).

Figure 21 Per- and polyfuoroalkyl substance in blood serum, 2002–03 to 2010–11

Figure 22 shows that other PFAS and brominated flame retardants have relatively constant concentrations. This is likely to reflect continued exposure.

Figure 22 Brominated flame retardants in blood serum, 2002–03 to 2012–13

Performance criterion: Access for all Australians to timely, high-quality data on emissions and transfers of listed pollutants

We published the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) data for 2018–19 on 31 March 2020. This was the 21st year of the NPI publication of emissions from industry.

The NPI provides the community, industry and governments with free information about emission estimates for 93 toxic substances and the source and location of these emissions. The 2018–19 data, collected by state and territory governments, also details emissions from 4,151 industry facilities.

In 2019–20 the NPI was the most frequently viewed dataset we published on data.gov.au, attracting a total of 9,888 views.

Snapshot: Partnering to understand recycling behaviours and the circular economy

Performance criterion: Effective management of climate risk and effective adaptation action by Commonwealth agencies and state and territory governments

In 2019–20 we held 2 climate risk masterclasses, which were attended by officers from 16 Commonwealth agencies. We also held a climate risk scan workshop for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of masterclasses held in 2019–20. We are exploring options for online training modules to future-proof against similar circumstances.

The Black Summer bushfires highlighted the need to adapt to and build resilience across government and the community. The Australian Government Disaster and Climate Resilience Reference Group continues to play an important role in coordination of these efforts. The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and the CSIRO Report on Climate and Disaster Resilience will provide further advice on possible government action.

Performance criterion: Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are protected, valued and understood

We made progress on all of the capability projects outlined in the Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan:

• Construction and testing of RSV Nuyina was conducted until the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic compromised the ability of all parties to participate in finalising the testing program. The impact of the pandemic on the delivery schedule is still being determined.
• Development of Australia's inland traverse and deep ice coring capability remains on track.
• The Davis Aerodrome Project successfully moved to the planning phase.
• The Macquarie Island Research Station Modernisation Project is still in the in planning phase. Stabilisation works are underway on current infrastructure to enable it to be used for future construction activities.
• Stabilisation works were commissioned and undertaken on current station infrastructure across all Antarctic Stations.

As reported in the Department of the Environment and Energy Annual Report 2018–19, the delivery of Year 2 activities was partially achieved. There were 2 remaining activities.

In 2019–20 the Australian Antarctic Science Council released a new 10-year Antarctic Science Strategic Plan, completing this activity.

Management voyages to Heard Island and McDonald Islands that were due to occur in 2016–17 are still to be undertaken, because of competing priorities and the impact of COVID-19.

The pandemic has had a significant effect on the 2020–21 Antarctic season and may have further implications for delivery time frames under the Antarctic Strategy and Action Plan.

In 2019–20, 206 international collaborators participated in the Australian Antarctic Science Program from 113 international institutions. This brings the average to 113 international institution collaborations per year over 5 years (Figure 23).

Figure 23 Number of international institutions collaborating in the Australian Antarctic Program, 2015–16 to 2019–20

In 2019–20, 64 peer-reviewed (category 1) publications were lodged with the Australian Antarctic Division's publications database. Publications in the database average 112 publications per year over 5 years (Figure 24).

Figure 24 Number of scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals, 2015–16 to 2019–20

Snapshot: 60 years of international cooperation in the Antarctic

Performance criterion: Data and information generated by the department are used by stakeholders and/or support evidence-based decision-making

The National Environmental Science Program (NESP) has approved 294 projects, with 96 of these completed by December 2019. Seventeen projects have been approved under emerging priorities funding, and 15 have been completed.

All projects have at least one end user. This includes those undertaken by the 6 research hubs and funded under emerging priorities. Many of the projects have multiple research users and the outputs are already being considered in decisions about environmental policy and on-ground action.

These data are drawn from annual reporting by the hubs and from research plan development and emerging priorities project reporting.

The impact of the Black Summer bushfires on biodiversity and habitat has resulted in the development of a number of new projects, with the support of the Bushfire Recovery Taskforce. These projects will be approved and undertaken in 2020–21.

On 18 September 2019, we partnered with the Australian Bureau of Statistics to compile and release the National Waste Account, which was the first account to be released under Environmental economic accounting: a common national approach strategy and action plan.

During the year, we progressed several other environmental-economic accounts, which are scheduled to be released in 2020–21. These include the:

• National Land Account (in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics)
• Second National Waste Account (in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics)
• Ocean ecosystem pilot account for the Geographe Marine Park, Western Australia (in collaboration with Parks Australia)
• Ocean waste pilot account in Samoa (in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Government of Samoa)
• Ecosystem pilot account for the Gunbower–Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon Site (in collaboration with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority)

Snapshot: Counting the value of the environment

Performance criterion: Data and information generated by the department are used by stakeholders and/or support evidence-based decision-making

The 2019–20 yearly targets for this criterion were:

1. stage 2 baseline synthesis reports published at www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au
2. analysis work to underpin Stage 3 impact and risk analysis reports 80% complete
3. stage 3 progress reports 1 and 2 submitted to Program Implementation Board
4. up to 6 user panel meetings hosted.

Three of the measures were achieved and one was partially achieved.

In May 2020 we released and published the stage 2 reports on for each geological and bioregional assessment (GBA) region. We submitted stage 3 progress reports 1 and 2 to the Program Implementation Board, and we held one user panel meeting for each GBA region. Three additional user panel meetings had to be delayed because of COVID-19 travel restrictions and ICT limitations. These meetings were rescheduled to early 2020–21.

We completed 75% of analysis work to underpin stage 3 impact and risk assessment (against the target of 80%). The remaining individual tasks vary from 35% to 95% complete.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted or delayed all uncompleted field work to inform the analysis. Completion of this field work would likely exceed the target.

To address this minor underachievement the Program Implementation Board updated the risk assessment register and program plan to ensure the program will deliver its outcomes. The board identified and implemented treatments to address key risks caused by COVID-19.

Based on a detailed schedule developed with our GBA program partners, the program remains on track for completion and delivery by the end of June 2021.