{"id":"F2017L00037","name":"Conservation Theme for Prioritising Nominations for Listing Threatened Species, Threatened Ecological Communities and Key Threatening Processes for the Assessment Period Commencing 1 October 2017","slug":"conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nominations-for-listing-threatened-species-threatened-ecological","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":95717,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L00037-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Conservation Theme for Prioritising Nominations for Listing Threatened Species, Threatened Ecological Communities and Key Threatening Processes for the Assessment Period Commencing 1 October 2017","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\ntitle: MS16001922 - Attach C – Legislative Instrument\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\n \n\nCommonwealth of Australia\n\n \n\n \n\nConservation Theme for Prioritising Nominations for Listing Threatened Species, Threatened Ecological Communities and Key Threatening Processes for the Assessment Period Commencing 1 October 2017\n\n \n\n \n\nI, JOSH FRYDENBERG, Minister for the Environment and Energy under section 194D of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), determine the following conservation theme be given priority in relation to the assessment period commencing 1 October 2017:\n\n \n\n \n\nFreshwater species and ecological communities\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nJosh Frydenberg\n\n \n\nMinister for the Environment and Energy\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nDated 15 December 2016\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument confines its effect to designating a single conservation theme (\"Freshwater species and ecological communities\") to be given priority for the assessment period commencing 1 October 2017. It does not expand or narrow the statutory listing criteria or create new statutory obligations; there is no textual indication in the instrument that the scope of the underlying EPBC listing regime has been altered beyond the prioritisation decision. (Instrument text; s 194D cited.)"},"complexity_factors":["Instrument is very short and narrowly focused (names a single theme and assessment period). (Instrument text.)","Operative effect depends on cross-reference to s 194D of the EPBC Act (delegated power), creating reliance on other statutory and administrative rules. (Instrument text; s 194D cited.)","Key operative term \"priority\" is not defined in the instrument, leaving implementation detail to administrative practice (creates interpretive and implementation ambiguity). (Instrument text.)","Temporal limitation (single assessment period) simplifies scope but requires tracking of successive determinations for ongoing effect. (Instrument text.)","Indirect downstream effects (possible later listings or regulatory impacts) are contingent on future decisions not specified here, increasing practical uncertainty for stakeholders despite textual simplicity. (Instrument text.)"],"plain_english_summary":"The Minister uses s194D of the EPBC Act to designate \"Freshwater species and ecological communities\" as the conservation theme to be prioritised in the assessment period commencing 1 October 2017. The instrument only reorders assessment priorities; it does not list species, change listing criteria, or create new legal obligations. Any regulatory or economic effects depend on later assessment decisions and administrative implementation, which the instrument does not specify."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the function intended by section 194D of the EPBC Act — allowing the Minister to set annual prioritisation themes. It has not expanded beyond this narrow, specific purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 200 words)","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the single empowering provision (section 194D)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or procedural requirements","Single operative clause with a straightforward directive","Essentially a ministerial announcement in legislative form"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a short legal instrument made by the Minister for the Environment and Energy under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the main federal law protecting Australia's environment).\n\n**What it does:**\nIt sets a **conservation theme** for a specific 12-month period (starting 1 October 2017). This theme tells the Threatened Species Scientific Committee which types of plants, animals, and ecosystems should get priority when deciding what to assess for official \"threatened\" status.\n\n**The theme chosen:**\n**\"Freshwater species and ecological communities\"** — meaning rivers, lakes, wetlands, and the plants and animals that live in them.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Scientists and conservation groups** making nominations for species to be listed as threatened\n- **The Threatened Species Scientific Committee** — they must prioritise assessments that fit this theme\n- **Freshwater ecosystems and species** — they get a temporary boost in attention for one assessment cycle\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout this kind of direction, the Committee might be overwhelmed by nominations and have to choose arbitrarily. This ensures that for 2017-2018, Australia's declining freshwater biodiversity (think Murray-Darling fish, wetland birds, river red gum forests) gets urgent attention. It's a way of focusing limited government resources on a specific environmental crisis."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nominations-for-listing-threatened-species-threatened-ecological","history":"/api/acts/conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nominations-for-listing-threatened-species-threatened-ecological/history","analysis":"/api/acts/conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nominations-for-listing-threatened-species-threatened-ecological/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nominations-for-listing-threatened-species-threatened-ecological/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nominations-for-listing-threatened-species-threatened-ecological/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/conservation-theme-for-prioritising-nominations-for-listing-threatened-species-threatened-ecological/documents"}}