Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System

About the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System

If a proponent chooses to pay into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund instead of buying and retiring credits to meet their offset obligation, the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System determines the amount they must pay.  

The Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System was established on 17 October 2022 by the Biodiversity Offsets Payment Calculator Order 2022. The Order includes the method by which the calculator determines the amount that a person may pay into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System for each biodiversity credit.  

The Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System is administered by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust.  

To learn more about the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System, including how to request a quote:

• visit Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System
• watch the launch webinar.

Assurance program

The department has developed an assurance program to give Biodiversity Offsets Scheme participants and the broader public confidence that the Biodiversity Conservation Trust is correctly applying the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System.

2022 assurance audit

In October 2022, an initial independent assurance audit was undertaken by Marsden Jacob Associates. It found that the Biodiversity Conservation Trust had applied the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System in accordance with the requirements of the Biodiversity Offsets Payment Calculator Order 2022.  

Download documentation from the 2022 assurance audit:

• Assurance audit methodology for the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System
• Cover letter and report – Assurance audit of the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System
• Biodiversity Conservation Trust response letter to assurance audit of the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System (PDF)(139.2 KB)

2023 assurance audit

In 2023, Marsden Jacobs completed a second assurance audit. It found that the Biodiversity Conservation Trust had applied the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System in accordance with the requirements of the Biodiversity Offsets Payment Calculator Order 2022.

The scope of the 2023 assurance audit was expanded to include a review of quotes issued in 2022–23, and a separate initial review of data to be used to generate quotes in 2023–24. The assurance audit method has been updated to reflect this new scope.

Download documentation from the 2023 assurance audit:

• Assurance audit methodology for the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System (2023) (PDF)(1.14 MB)
• Assurance audit of the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System (2023)  (PDF)(369.81 KB)
• Biodiversity Conservation Trust response letter to assurance audit of the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System (2023) (PDF)(138 KB)

2024 assurance audit

In 2024, Marsden Jacobs completed a third assurance audit. It found that the Biodiversity Conservation Trust had applied the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System in accordance with the requirements of the Biodiversity Offsets Payment Calculator Order 2022.

The audit method includes a minor clarification to note that the assurance audit applies to applications received on or after 1 July of the relevant year.

Download documentation from the 2024 assurance audit:

• Assurance audit methodology for the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System (2024) (PDF 692KB)
• Assurance audit of the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System (2024) (PDF 324KB)
• Biodiversity Conservation Trust response letter to assurance audit of the Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System (2024) (PDF 92KB)