Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 Regulatory Impact Statement This Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 and the Victorian Guide to Regulation. Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 Regulatory Impact Statement This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared to fulfil the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 and to facilitate public consultation on the proposed Wildlife (Game) Regulation 2012. In accordance with the Victorian Guide to Regulation, the Victorian Government seeks to ensure that proposed regulations are well- targeted, effective and appropriate, and impose the lowest possible burden on Victorian business and the community. A prime function of the RIS process is to help members of the public comment on proposed statutory rules (regulations) before they have been finalised. Such public input can provide valuable information and perspectives, and thus improve the overall quality of the regulations. The proposed Regulations are being circulated to key stakeholders and any other interested parties, and feedback is now sought. A copy of the proposed Regulations is provided as an attachment to this RIS. Public comments and submissions are now invited on the proposed Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012. All submissions will be treated as public documents and published on the Department of Primary Industries website. Written submissions should be forwarded by 5.00pm, 20 August 2012 to: Mr Zachary Powell Game Victoria Department of Primary Industries 1 Spring Street Melbourne VIC 3000 or email: [email protected] If you would like to receive this information/publication in an accessible format (such as large print or audio) please call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186, TTY 1800 122 969, or email [email protected]. Published by the Department of Primary Industries Game Victoria, July 2012. © The State of Victoria 2012. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Department of Primary Industries 1 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000. ISBN 978-1-74326-246-7 (print) ISBN 978-1-74326-247-4 (online) This Regulatory Impact Statement was prepared for the Department of Primary Industries by Regulatory Impact Solutions Pty Ltd. Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. The Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 and Victorian Guide to Regulation require assessment of alternative non-regulatory and regulatory options. The Victoria Government notes that some options may be inconsistent with current government policy but recognises the requirement for a range of options to be considered. For more information about DPI go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au or phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. Table of Contents ABBREVIATONS ............................................................................................................................................. III EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................1 1. WHAT IS THE ISSUE/PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED? ..................................................................14 1.1 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................................14 1.2 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK...................................................................................................................18 1.3 RATIONALE FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION ....................................................................................18 1.4 PROBLEMS THE REGULATIONS SEEK TO ADDRESS .................................................................................20 1.5 NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM ................................................................................................23 2. OBJECTIVES OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.........................................................................42 2.1 GOVERNMENT POLICY............................................................................................................................42 2.2 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................43 2.3 AUTHORISING PROVISION.......................................................................................................................43 3. OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................44 3.1 REGULATORY AND NON-REGULATORY OPTIONS ...................................................................................44 3.2 REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.....................................................................52 4. COSTS AND BENEFITS OF THE OPTIONS.........................................................................................54 4.1 BASE CASE..............................................................................................................................................54 4.2 METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................................55 4.3 ASSESSMENT OF OPTIONS.......................................................................................................................57 4.A FEES .........................................................................................................................................................69 5. PREFERRED OPTION..............................................................................................................................77 5.1 PREFERRED OPTION ................................................................................................................................77 5.2 GROUPS AFFECTED .................................................................................................................................80 5.3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS ....................................................................................80 6. ASSESSMENT OF COMPETITION & SMALL BUSINESS IMPACTS.............................................81 7. IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT ISSUES ........................................................................84 8. EVALUATION............................................................................................................................................88 9. CONSULTATION.......................................................................................................................................89 10. ATTACHMENTS........................................................................................................................................96 WILDLIFE (GAME) REGULATIONS Regulatory Impact Statement – Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 ABBREVIATONS DPI – Department of Primary Industries DSE – Department of Sustainability and Environment FTE – Full Time Equivalent (staff) HHT – Hound Hunting Test (the proposed Regulation now refer to this test as the ‘Sambar Deer Hunting with Hounds Test’. For ease of expression, this RIS will refer to the Hound Hunting Test). MCA – Multi-criteria Analysis Premier’s Guidelines – Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 Guidelines PV – present value. Present value ‘discounts’ the value of money in future years to allow it to be valued in today’s terms. r. – regulations RIS – Regulatory Impact Statement s. – section the current Regulations – Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2001 the proposed Regulations – Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 VCEC – Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission VPS – Victorian Public Service WIT – Waterfowl Identification Test iii Regulatory Impact Statement – Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY KEY POINTS: In Victoria, recreational game hunting has occurred for over 150 years and remains a popular and culturally significant activity. There are around 41,500 licensed game hunters in Victoria, an increase of over 41 per cent in the last decade. The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) estimates that game hunting generates around $96 million of economic activity in Victoria annually. In line with government policy, in December 2011, Game Victoria was established. Game Victoria will develop strategies and policies for the sustainable harvest of game species and support the promotion of the game hunting sector, including promoting game hunting as a popular recreational activity. Game hunters in Victoria face a range of regulations. It is, therefore, important that the proposed Regulations impose the lowest possible burden on hunters, while achieving government other objectives. Consultation with stakeholders and experience built up over the last 10 years has resulted in a number of changes to the proposed Regulations (see Box 1 on p. 12 for key changes). In almost all instances, the changes to the proposed Regulations will lower the regulatory burden and allow growth in the industry without compromising the Victorian Government’s objectives. Fee levels have been