This seminar is crucial for legal practitioners. Grasping Queensland's Environmental Offset Framework is key in environmental law. Explore the Act's depths, recent assessments, and upcoming revisions—an essential resource for specialists. Gain insights into local planning intricacies, stay updated on environmental concepts, and understand federal law reforms. This seminar ensures legal professionals stay adept in this evolving legal terrain. WEB243Q16Z
Chair:
Andrew Skoien, Barrister, Chambers 33
9.00am to 10.00am Managing Offsets under the Queensland Environmental Offset Framework
- Discuss the key mechanisms under the Environmental Offsets Act 2014
- Chart the key findings of the recent review (2020-2021) undertaken by the Queensland Government and the Government’s response to consultation
- Discuss proposed updates set to occur
- Provide commentary on pitfalls and opportunities in respect of offset conditioning
Presented by Jessica Day, Senior Associate, Johnson Winter & Slattery
12.15pm to 1.15pm Recent Developments: Case Law and Legislation Update
Examine significant recent cases and developments in environmental and planning law that may impact your practice, your clients or your organisation
Presented by Matthew McDermott, Barrister, Quay 11 Chambers
10.00am to 11.00am The Introduction of Positive Obligations for Environmental Stewardship
- Discuss the concept of environmental stewardship
- Provide a review of current environmental and other legislation in Queensland that could include a positive obligation for environmental stewardship
- Discuss what this obligation might look like and how it might be implemented
- Outline and discuss potential changes to directors duties under the Corporations Act 2001 and any enforcement mechanisms that might be introduced
Presented by Tarnya Fitzgibbon, Director and Principal Consultant, Fitzgibbon Town Planning and Environmental Solutions; Former legal practitioner
11.15am to 12.15pm Update on Federal Environmental Law and the Reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
- Outline the Nature Positive Plan
- Outline the proposed National Environmental Standards and discuss how they differ from the current regulatory regime
- Discuss how the reform will complement recent changes to Queensland’s Environmental Protection Act
- Provide commentary on the advantages and disadvantages of establishing an independent federal environmental regulatory body – Environment Protection Australia
- Advise the upcoming dates and milestones in relation to these reforms and opportunities to provide comments on the proposed changes
Presented by Tarnya Fitzgibbon, Director and Principal Consultant, Fitzgibbon Town Planning and Environmental Solutions; Former legal practitioner
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD units in Legal Knowledge
This program is based on QLD legislation
11.00am to 11.15am Break
Presenters
Ms. Tarnya Fitzgibbon, Lawyer,
Tarnya Fitzgibbon is the Director and Principal Consultant at Fitzgibbon Town Planning and Environmental Solutions. Tarnya is a Registered Planner with the Planning Institute of Australia and a Certified Environmental Practitioner with the Environment Institute of Australia and NZ. She is the only person in Australia to hold both of these qualifications. She has 10 years’ experience as a practicing town planner, where she was the Development Assessment Manager at Rockhampton Regional Council and is now the Manager of Development and Regulatory Services at Banana Shire Council. Tarnya practiced law for 16 years, and was formerly a partner at Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers, where she led the planning and environment team. Tarnya has extensive experience in all aspects of planning and environment law. Tarnya’s legal experience was in the property, resources, agribusiness, infrastructure and public sectors. In addition to her legal qualifications, Tarnya holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental science, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning with Honours and an MBA. She has recently graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Public Leadership. While she is not currently practicing law, she is exposed to planning and environment law everyday. In 2023, she worked for the Department of Environment and Science in its Coal and Central Compliance team. This gave her daily exposure to environmental law, especially relating to environmental incident responses, investigations and proceedings for environmental offences. This complemented her legal practice where she defended companies and directors for environmental offences in Queensland and New South Wales. Her experience also extends to climate change, renewable energy and water.
Ms. Jessica Anne Day, Senior Associate,
Jessica is a planning and environment lawyer with over 5 years’ experience specialising in native title, oil and gas, government, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors. Jessica advises clients in relation to their Native Title and cultural heritage obligations, land access, development and environmental approvals and compliance under Commonwealth, State and local regulatory frameworks. Jessica also acts for clients in respect of planning and environment litigation.
Mr. Matthew McDermott, Barrister,
Matthew was called to the bar in 2018. Between late 2010 and 2018, Matthew was a solicitor at two national law firms in Brisbane and before that practised as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand. Since coming to the bar, he has acted in disputes in the Queensland Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, District Court, Magistrates Court and other disputes tribunals in a broad range of practice areas but particularly in relation to property law (including body corporate and community management issues), planning and environmental law, regulatory enforcement and prosecutions, defamation and general commercial disputes.
Ms. Sarah Day, Special Counsel,
Sarah is a specialist planning and development lawyer. Sarah has 12 years’ experience in advising on commercial, residential and industrial projects for both developers and local authorities. Sarah acts for private and commercial clients, including property developers, individuals, submitters and local authorities in all areas of planning and environment law.
