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Thursday, 9 February 2012
Page: 714

Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

(Question No. 1464)

Senator Waters asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 10 November 2011:

With reference to a recent Four Corners program on 7 November 2011 and comments by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Mr Burke) that the Government has undertaken to change the process for notifying the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee of activities that may affect the outstanding universal values of our world heritage properties to 'make sure there'll be a more routine method of notification':

(1) What will this new process involve, and when will it be in place.

(2) Will the Government's new process be consistent with paragraph 172 of the UNESCO document, Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by:

   (a)   ensuring the World Heritage Committee is informed of the Government's intention to undertake or to authorise major restorations or new constructions as soon as possible, and prior to the Government making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse; and

   (b)   allowing adequate time and appropriate procedures so that the World Heritage Committee has the opportunity to advise the Minister prior to any decision on appropriate solutions to ensure that the outstanding universal value of the property is fully preserved.

Senator Conroy: The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The process requires the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to report quarterly to the World Heritage Centre on proposed developments that are determined under section 12 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as likely to have a significant impact on the world heritage values of any of Australia's world heritage properties. The first of these reports was provided to the World Heritage Centre in October 2011, with quarterly reports to be provided thereafter as required.

(2)   (a) Yes, the process requires proposals to be notified at the assessment stage of the process and prior to any approval decisions.

   (b) Yes.