About the NRM Ministerial Council

• Introduction
• Objective
• Terms of reference
• Membership
• Chairing
• Secreteriat
• Method of operation

Introduction

The particular importance of Ministerial Councils in the Australian context is to facilitate implementation, nationally, plans and proposals which would not otherwise be possible because of the limitations imposed by the division of constitutional powers between Australian, State and Territory governments.

The Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC) consists of the Australian/State/Territory and New Zealand government ministers responsible for primary industries, natural resources, environment and water policy. This Council results from the amalgamation and reorganisation of the previous ministerial councils (ARMCANZ, ANZECC and MCFFA) that dealt with elements of these issues.

The Council is the peak government forum for consultation, coordination and, where appropriate, integration of action by governments on natural resource management issues.

Objective

The agreed objective of the Council is:

"to promote the conservation and sustainable use of Australia's natural resources".

Terms of reference

The terms of reference of the Council are:

• to develop policies and strategies for national approaches to the conservation, sustainable use and management of Australia's land, water, vegetation and biological resources.
• to oversee the development and implementation of national natural resource management programs including the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP), the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and other agreed programs.
• to monitor and evaluate outcomes of these policies, strategies and programs and the health of the nation's natural resources.
• to promote community understanding of and engagement with the key challenges associated with the sustainable use and management of Australia's land and water, vegetation and biological resources.
• to liaise with other Ministerial Councils and other bodies on matters relevant to the activities of the Council.

Membership

All Australian/State/Territory and New Zealand government ministers responsible for natural resource management matters are members of Council. Papua New Guinea and the Australian Local Government Association participate in meetings as observers.

Chairing

The Council is jointly Chaired by the Australian Government Ministers responsible for Environment and Heritage, and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Secretariat

The Secretariat is provided by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Method of operation

Decisions of the Council are arrived at by consensus.

Council membership is open to up to two Ministers per jurisdiction. For consideration of issues out-of-session, agenda papers are directed to all Council Ministers with the most appropriate Minister asked to provide a single coordinated State/Territory response.

The Council meets twice a year with meetings hosted by members in an agreed rotation. There are no formally established or written rules of procedure. The proceedings are held in camera and the resolutions of Council are cleared by all members before they are published.

The Council is supported by one permanent Standing Committee, the Natural Resource Management Standing Committee (NRMSC), membership of which comprises Departmental Heads/CEOs of relevant Australian/ State/ Territory and New Zealand government agencies.

The above operational arrangements were endorsed by Ministers at the inaugural meeting of Council on 31 August 2001. The arrangements are consistent with the Protocols and General Principles for the Operation of Ministerial Councils agreed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in June 2001.