A voice for the environment

21 May 2015

House of Representatives Inquiry into the Tax Deductibility of Environment Groups. http://www.aph.gov.au/reo

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Inquiry into the Tax Deductibility of Environment Groups.

Capricorn Conservation Council since 1973 has been the leading community conservation group in Central , covering the region from Broadsound to Baffle Creek, the Fitzroy Basin and Belyando catchments.

CCC engages with the general community, Local, State and Federal Governments, Natural Resource Management Groups (CCC was a member of the steering group which formed the Fitzroy Basin Association), land managers etc. (e.g. graziers, Landcare Groups) to:  Encourage an understanding and protection of biodiversity conservation and resilience  Promote sustainable land and water use under ecological sustainability principles

CCC relies heavily on community volunteers to engage across our very large regional area. Grant funding and donations have enabled the operation of an environment centre and 1-1.5 staff coordination of volunteer efforts and participation in the numerous engagements mentioned above. Community donations (monetary and in-kind) have enabled CCC to continue to operate for the past 40 years and continue to participate in the plethora of these engagements.

Some (brief) examples:  Successful submissions to have National Parks declared at o Mt Etna (critical habitat for the Little-bent Winged Bat) o Mount Archer, (natural backdrop to City of and key biodiversity hub linked to ecological corridors of the ) o Blackdown Tableland at the tip of the important biodiversity connector to the Great Dividing Range, the Expedition and Dawson Ranges o Curtis Island the largest island in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area  Constructive input to Local, State and Federal Government legislative and policy reviews: o Vegetation Management Act and numerous others o Endangered species management plans, e.g. Fitzroy River Turtle (our logo) o Energy and Northern Australia white papers o Regional environmental disaster recovery plans (e.g. T.C Marcia)  Biodiversity Education Resources development and promotion o Highlighting the importance of biodiversity protection for community wellbeing, economic resilience especially for primary production as well as nature conservation o Delivered to schools, Landcare and broader community o Publication of “Plants of Capricornia” a comprehensive compendium of all know plants in the region o Production of books featuring the natural beauty of the Keppel Islands and Corals o Long term surveys of migratory and shore populations (Broadsound)  Community Activities and Information seminars o Riparian and dunal revegetation, wetland care, marine debris clean-up, o Total water cycle management, sustainable energy/energy efficiency, o Interaction with other groups: Birdlife surveys, Frog Society Qld, Native Plant groups et al.  Placements science graduates, students and older age workers: >80 hours p.w.

Environment Centre, Livermore Street, Rockhampton PO Box 4011 Rockhampton Q 4700 ABN 14 846 165 788 Phone/Fax: (07) 4927 8644 Email: [email protected] www.cccqld.org.au  Membership of numerous government and industry reference groups – e.g. o Shoalwater Bay Training Area Environmental Advisory Group – monitoring adherence of environmental management program with SWBTA Committee of Inquiry ‘dual use’ principles (conservation and Defence) o Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership - improved monitoring of water quality and marine ecosystem trends o Mine Rehabilitation Group - rehabilitation practitioners, regulators and researchers to share knowledge to improve rehabilitation outcomes o ACARP (Coal Industry) / Alluvium Consulting Working group – development of a community assessment tool for improving mine stream diversions and rehabilitation o Capricorn Coast Local Marine Advisory Group – GBRMPA link for sustainable multiple GBR uses o Mount Archer (NP) Master Plan Reference Group – Rockhampton Regional Council o Southern Capricorn Coast Boat Ramp Advisory Group – Livingstone Shire (LSC) o Environment Recovery Committee (TC Marcia) – LSC, strategic vegetation management and resilience planning  Major Project Reference Groups (too numerous to list other than some samples) o Balaclava Island Coal Export Terminal o Nathan Dam Community Reference Group o Connor River Reference Group o Arrow- Bowen (CSG) Pipeline consultation o Santos – Surat Basin produced CSG water

Inquiry Terms of Reference

 Definition of 'environmental organisation' under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, including under Subdivision 30-E;

CCC complies with all State statuary, financial and other reporting requirements for not-for profit organisations and charitable funds. Our annual audited financial reports clearly indicate the separation of operational funds from our donations accounts. Our charitable fund trustees always ensure that donations are used for appropriate purposes such as community education or on-ground works. Operation of the Environment Centre, salary for staff media events and other activities are funded from grants and membership not the charitable account.

 Requirements to be met by an organisation to be listed on the Register and maintain its listing;

CCC meets the reporting requirements of the Qld Office of Fair Trading, Register of Environmental Organisations and the Australian Charities and Not-for Profit Commission. We recommend that the initial intention for the ACNC to become the main portal for these reports be enacted to avoid wasteful duplication of organisations’ precious time and costly administrative structures.

 activities undertaken by organisations currently listed on the Register and the extent to which these activities involve on-ground environmental works;

The previous and current reporting requirements if administrated as intended should be sufficient to assess the appropriate deployment of funds. The term ‘On-ground’ must however include education and awareness programs, not just digging holes and putting in trees. The nation is littered with start- stop ‘greening schemes’ which, while maybe having a temporary diversionary use for trainees and volunteers, have failed through lack of follow-up and sense of ownership by the community and local councils which often spray or slash the emergent trees within months of their planting.

 Reporting requirements for organisations to disclose donations and activities funded by donations;  Administration of the Register and potential efficiency improvements;  Compliance arrangements and the measures available to the Department of the Environment and the Australian Taxation Office to investigate breaches of the Act and Ministerial Guidelines by listed organisations; and

Environment Centre, Livermore Street, Rockhampton PO Box 4011 Rockhampton Q 4700 ABN 14 846 165 788 Phone/Fax: (07) 4927 8644 Email: [email protected] www.cccqld.org.au  Relevant governance arrangements in international jurisdictions, and exploring methods to adopt best practice in Australia.

There should be a single point of reporting and joint Federal State compliance through the ACNC linked with on-line data connection with relevant State bodies. State, National and International groups are an essential source of technical knowledge for regional conservation groups and need also have continued strong government support through retention of their charitable status. One of the many such examples, currently assisting on the Capricorn Coast post TC Marcia, is the group Tangaroa Blue which is dedicated to prevention of, research into and reduction of marine debris.

In conclusion, CCC is happy for the Review in the expectation that it will achieve greater recognition true value of the volunteer efforts, tangible environmental outcomes, maintenance of human links to nature and understanding the role of healthy soils, rivers, wetlands, nature corridors and coastal waters in human wellbeing, food security, protecting the resilience of Australia’s unique flora and fauna.

Attempts by some voices to depict conservation groups as negative naysayers should be interrogated thoroughly. CCC is very disappointed with our attempts to enlighten certain political and industry representative with polite messages outlined above, rarely if ever receiving acknowledgement or replies to our polite letters and emails.

Yours Sincerely

Michael McCabe Coordinator

Environment Centre, Livermore Street, Rockhampton PO Box 4011 Rockhampton Q 4700 ABN 14 846 165 788 Phone/Fax: (07) 4927 8644 Email: [email protected] www.cccqld.org.au