Approach
The Commission's focus is to re-initiate State of the Environment (SoE) reporting by engaging with independent experts and subject matter experts from the Tasmanian Government to produce a Tasmanian State of the Environment Report (2024 SoE Report) by the end of June 2024.
These experts and their teams will prepare a range of environmental indicator report cards under six main themes. The themes and experts working on theme indicator reports are listed in the table below.
| Theme | Consultancy | Experts |
|---|---|---|
| Air | Sustainable Living Tasmania Inc | Todd Houstien and John Todd |
| Biodiversity | Ecotech Environmental Pty Ltd | Matthew Taylor and Phillip Laroche with assistance from contractors Dr Wendy Potts, Dr Louise Gilfedder and Birdlife Tasmania's Michael Newman |
| Coasts and marine | Not applicable | Dr Vishnu Prahalad and Dr Eric Woehler OAM |
| Land | Enviro-Dynamics Pty Ltd | Dr Josie Kelman and Eve Lazarus |
| Rivers and wetlands | Not applicable | Christine Coughanowr |
| Waste | MRA Consulting Group | David Holman, Richard Paschke and Sergio Nusimovich |
The Commission has also engaged Cibo Labs Pty Ltd (Cibo) to undertake spatial analysis of groundcover. The Cibo analysis will be used by the experts in the preparation of the 2024 SoE Report.
In addition to theme indicator reports, the 2024 SoE Report will include:
- theme-related case studies;
- summaries;
- findings; and
- recommendations.
The Commission has appointed Joe Tranter as Director, State of the Environment Report and a project steering committee comprised of Commissioners Nick Heath (Chair), Pam Allan, and Max Kitchell to complete the 2024 SoE Report. The Commission will undertake a SoE Report framework review to inform the next reporting cycle.
Diagram. Key steps for the completion of the 2024 SoE Report and review of the SoE reporting framework.
Delivery
The Commission must submit the 2024 SoE Report to the Minister for Planning, as directed by the Minister, by 30 June 2024.
The Minister must cause a SoE Report to be laid on the table of each House of Parliament within the first 15 sitting days of the House after the Report is received by the Minister.
The 2024 SoE Report will be published in an electronic format on the Commission’s website. Provision will be made for ordering and purchase of physical copies of the report.
Framework review
After the completion of the 2024 SoE Report, the Commission will undertake a review of its SoE reporting framework. The terms of reference for this review will be determined at a later stage. The diagram above illustrates the overall process for report preparation and framework review.
More information
Show information about: Who is involved?
The Commission is consulting with independent experts and subject matter experts from the Tasmanian Government and other research organisations to prepare the 2024 SoE Report.
The Commission is also engaging with other Australian jurisdictions that undertake SoE reporting to help inform Tasmania’s SoE reporting framework. Stakeholder feedback on the information provided on the Commission's website will also be collected and considered by the Commission.
The Commission has appointed Joe Tranter as Director, State of Environment Report and a project steering committee comprised of Commissioners to guide the overall preparation of the 2024 SoE Report. The Commission will undertake a review of the SoE Report framework after completion of the 2024 Report.
Show information about: When will the report be finalised?
The Commission must finalise the 2024 SoE Report by the end of June 2024.
Show information about: What happens after the report is finalised?
When the 2024 SoE Report is finalised, the Commission must submit the report to the Minister for Planning, as directed by the Minister. The Minister must then table the report to each House of Parliament within the first 15 sitting days of the House.
Show information about: Where will the report be published?
The 2024 SoE Report will be published in an electronic format on the Commission’s website. Provision will be made for ordering and purchase of physical copies of the report.