Science and Research
John Voumard, Inquiry Chair
© Commonwealth of Australia, 2000
ISBN 0642547157
In conducting the Inquiry to advise on a scheme capable of implementation through Regulations under Section 301 of the Environment Protection and Bio-Diversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwth) to provide for the control of access to biological resources in Commonwealth areas I received invaluable assistance from the members appointed to the Inquiry's Expert Reference Group.
I am greatly indebted to them for the open minded and diligent approach they each took to the task of advising me upon the many complex issues with which the Inquiry dealt.
The members of the Expert Reference Group were Mr Sandy Donaldson, Senior Partner, Donaldson Walsh Lawyers, Adelaide, Intellectual Property Lawyer; Ms Elizabeth Evans-Illidge, Research Scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville; Ms Henrietta Fourmile, former Associate Professor Centre of Indigenous History and the Arts, University of Western Australia who returned to Montreal to work with the Secretariat on the Convention on Biological Diversity during the course of the Inquiry; Professor Ron Quinn, Director AstraZeneca R&D, Griffith University, Queensland; Ms Katherine Wells, Environmental Lawyer formerly of the Environment Defenders' Office, Sydney.
Dr Susan Reye, General Counsel to the Department of Environment and Heritage and Mr Paul Minogue, Counsel Bio-Diversity Group, Environment Australia provided me with comprehensive legal advice on complex issues within tight timeframes and I am most appreciative of their work.
I am deeply indebted to the staff of Environment Australia and in particular to the members of the Access Task Force, Mr Geoff Burton, Ms Sally Petherbridge, Mr Chris Mobbs and towards the end of the Inquiry Ms Sue O'Brien without whose dedicated professionalism the Inquiry's work and the provision of my report could not have occurred.
I am most grateful to all of those who took the time to make formal submissions to the Inquiry and to engage in consultations with me in the course of the Inquiry.
