Senator FORSHAW (11:05 AM) —We will not be supporting this amendment. Firstly, as I have said in relation to a number of other matters, we have already successfully amended the bill by the inclusion of the objects clause, and that includes paragraph (2)(b), which:

. . . ensures that Australia fulfils its obligations under relevant international agreements . . .

Senator Greig's amendment makes reference to the act having effect subject to Australia's obligations under international law; that is a rather open-ended and undefined proposition. Clearly, the international agreements that have been entered into by Australia are ones that are readily identifiable and can be applied, but the reference to international law is one which we would see as providing complications in interpretation. Further, we will be moving amendment No. 8 on our list of amendments and that makes reference to the World Heritage List, the Ramsar convention and other relevant international obligations.

Finally, as the parliamentary secretary has already noted, there is included in the definition of an RFA a requirement to have regard to world heritage values. We believe that the legislation together with the amendments that we have moved covers the issue of international obligations satisfactorily, so there is no need to complicate matters with this amendment.