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Thursday, 9 February 2012
Page: 741

Marine Sanctuaries

(Question No. 1489)

Senator Cormann asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 12 December 2011:

In regard to the proposed Commonwealth South-West Marine Parks:

(1) Can the Minister confirm when the Commonwealth's proposed boundaries will be released to the public.

(2) What is the process in implementing the proposed boundaries.

(3) Has the Western Australian Government been consulted in the preparation of these boundaries; if so, what is its position on the draft boundaries; if not, why not.

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

In regard to the proposed Commonwealth South-West Marine Parks:

(1) The Commonwealth's proposed boundaries will be released to the public in the first half of 2012.

(2) The implementation of the proposed boundaries is a two phase process involving the declaration of a marine reserve network followed by development of a management plan for the network.

Once final marine reserve network proposals have been released, there will be a separate process to formally proclaim the marine reserve networks under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This includes:

Publishing a notice inviting the public to comment on the proposal to declare a Commonwealth marine reserve network over the area, including formal statutory consultation of at least 60 days for comments

Consideration of public comments

Revisions if required

Ministerial decision

Advising the Governor-General

The Governor-General makes a Proclamation declaring the areas to be Commonwealth reserves

The Proclamation comes into effect when registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

(3) The Western Australian Government was consulted in the preparation of the draft boundaries and has provided a written submission during the public consultation stage. In its submission, the Western Australian Government confirms its support for marine reserves and its commitment to working with the Australian Government on marine biodiversity protection. For details of the submission, contact the Western Australian Government.