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Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Page: 2455

Senator CONROY (Victoria—Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (15:05): I have some additional answers to a question without notice from Senator Waters. I seek to incorporate the answer in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer read as follows—

On 19 March 2012, during question time, Senator Waters asked me a question as Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities concerning national heritage listing and wild rivers in Queensland.

RESPONSE

The National Heritage List recognises, celebrates and protects places of outstanding heritage value to the nation.

The usual process for the inclusion of places in the National Heritage List is set out in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Anyone can nominate a place for inclusion in the National Heritage List. Each year, the Australian Heritage Council reviews nominations and provides the Minister with advice on which places it considers should be assessed. The Minister approves a finalised priority assessment list.

The Australian Heritage Council undertakes an assessment of each place on the finalised priority assessment list and provides the Minister with a written assessment of whether the place meets any of the national heritage criteria. The Council also provides the Minister with comments received during the assessment process.

After receiving an assessment from the Australian Heritage Council, the Minister decides whether to include a place in the National Heritage List, having regard to Council's assessment and the comments received.

The Minister may include a place in the National Heritage List only if he is satisfied that the place has one or more national heritage values.