Senator Brown asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 18 June 2002:

(1) (a) On what basis did the Minister decide that oceans, national governance and sustainable land management are the key issues for Australia; and (b) what is meant by `national governance'.

(2) Will the government oppose water privatisation, including through the GATS agreement.

(3) Will the Government support setting targets and timetables for a substantial global shift to renewable energy sources.

(4) Will the Government support the creation of an independent international renewable energy agency.

(5) (a) What environmental treaties has the Government signed but not ratified and (b) when will they be ratified.

(6) Will the Government support placing international environmental and social rules ahead of trade rules, with the final power of arbitration transferred from the World Trade Organisation to an independent international court.

(7) Will the Government support the creation of an international legal framework for corporate social and environmental responsibility and accountability of private corporations.

Senator Hill (Minister for Defence) —The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) (a) The agenda for the World Summit on Sustainable Development covers a very broad range of issues. In determining Australia's priorities, consideration was given to the important sustainable development issues which Australia could make a positive and strategic impact in international debate. Our success in ensuring in particular that oceans management receives appropriate attention has been widely acclaimed.

(b) National governance is the exercise of power or authority - political, economic, administrative or otherwise - to manage a country's resources and affairs. Good national governance means competent management of a country's resources and affairs in a manner that is open, transparent, accountable, equitable and responsive to people's needs. It includes the creation of domestic policy settings that are supportive and conducive to strengthening law and justice systems; increasing public sector effectiveness; and developing civil society.

(2) Responsibility for regulation of the allocation and use of water in Australia vests with the States and Territories. In 1994, the Council of Australian Government (CoAG) agreed on a National Water Reform Framework to achieve an efficient and sustainable water industry, including through a comprehensive system of water allocations, backed by separation of water property rights from land title, provision of water for the environment, and the adoption of pricing regimes based on full cost recovery. The GATS treaty features no mandatory obligation for governments to privatise or open up public service to competition and it does not dictate any specific role for the public and private sectors.

(3) Australia has opposed this proposal in preparatory meetings of the WSSD believing it to be inappropriate and impractical. Future positions will be determined in the context of the negotiations as a whole on this issue and other issues under discussion.

(4) Australia has resisted proposals for new institutions in preparatory meetings of the WSSD, on the grounds that existing institutions are adequate for the purposes envisaged. Future positions will be determined in the context of the negotiations as a whole, on this issue and other issues under discussion.

(5) (a) The Government has signed the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides; the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; and the Kyoto Protocol.

(b) There is no timetable for the ratification of the Rotterdam Convention or Stockholm Convention. Australia will not be ratifying the Kyoto Protocol unless and until it is demonstrated that it is in Australia's interest to do so. At present, it is not in the national interest to ratify the Protocol because there is as yet no clear pathway for emissions control commitments by key developing countries under the Kyoto process.

(6) The World Trade Organisation provides for a dispute settlement system between its members with regard to the interpretation of WTO rules only. Multilateral environmental agreements also contain provisions for their parties to resolve any differences. Current international trade and environmental and social rules can all be implemented in a mutually supportive manner. The Government does not believe that the present situation needs to be changed.

(7) No.