Targeted compliance

Targets

By 2027 we aim to have:

  • Implemented a dynamic compliance prioritisation framework.
  • Enhanced remote sensing and monitoring capability utilising emerging technologies.

On track

  • Our compliance program targets those activities that pose the greatest potential risk to Queensland’s environment and communities.
  • We use a variety of community, industry and technology-based intelligence sources to identify illegal operations and target them for compliance and enforcement.
  • Our Annual Strategic Compliance Priorities provide a targeted and transparent approach to compliance where there is a focus on reducing risks to the environment and advise regulated operators about what to expect (Action 3.1).
  • We will no longer be progressing with a ‘beyond compliance’ recognition framework (Action 3.6). Instead, we are focussing on strengthening our compliance framework by supporting streamlining and enhancing compliance capability.

Actions

Action status indicator

  • Complete
  • Awaiting commencement
  • In progress
  • Ongoing
  • Closed

Ongoing

  • Information about our compliance and enforcement framework is published online.
  • The framework is adaptable and facilitates the department to implement a risk-based regulatory approach that focuses on environmental harm and serious non-compliance.
  • Our ongoing compliance work continues to be informed by community, industry and scientific intelligence
  • Annual Strategic Compliance Priorities provide a targeted and transparent approach to compliance where there is a focus on reducing risks to the environment and advise regulated operators about what to expect.
  • Our Annual strategic compliance priorities 2022–2023 (PDF, 253KB) include waste, petroleum and gas and the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Regional compliance teams utilise the compliance prioritisation model to inform regional compliance work programs.

Ongoing

  • We have strong processes and systems in place for gathering information and intelligence on activities to inform compliance including a dedicated intelligence team.
  • We have delivered internal system improvements, including enhanced reporting and staff development to support our intelligence capability.

In progress

Ongoing

  • Through the online Public Register Portal (Environmental Protection Act 1994), people can search, view and download the following statutory enforcement notices:
    • accepted enforceable undertakings
    • transitional environmental programs
    • environmental protection orders
    • environmental evaluations
    • direction notices
    • clean-up notices
    • cost recovery notices.
  • Work has continued on the development of our social media presence and encouraging members of the public to report incidents or illegal activities through the pollution hotline. This has been reinforced by publishing content in relation to compliance outcomes as a result of community reports.
  • We also provide updates on compliance outcomes through our Regulatory Update newsletters to keep the community aware of important compliance and enforcement information.

Ongoing

  • We continue to expand our use of remote sensing, drones and other emerging technologies in our regulatory activities.
  • Our Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) capability is used in a variety of applications, such as undertaking volumetric surveys at landfills to confirm the integrity of the Queensland waste levy framework. We are also establishing a dedicated RPAS pilot team.
  • As part of our response to New Chum Odour issues, we provided air quality monitoring devices to a number of households in the area. This community monitoring includes hydrogen sulfide monitoring and the deployment of air sampling canisters that sample up to 74 different types of chemical compounds.

Closed

  • We will no longer be progressing with a ‘beyond compliance’ recognition framework.
  • Instead, we are focusing on strengthening our compliance framework by supporting streamlining and enhancing compliance capability.
  • Since the Strategy was developed, there has also been a broader focus on operators’ Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) which has overtaken the driver for a ‘beyond compliance’ recognition framework.

Closed

  • This action has been closed in recognition that our litigation team is an ongoing business function.