5624 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister for the Environment

5624 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister for the Environment: What evidence, if any, does the Minister have that the “National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) has become extremely complex and expensive to implement”?

Hon Penny Simmonds: Regional and unitary councils have referred to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 as a case in point for over-prescription, with too many specific technical requirements to be adhered to (such as the extensive list of attributes and national bottom lines). An overly prescriptive approach does not allow councils the flexibility they need. This results in high costs, uncertainty for communities and delayed policy implementation.