Media release - 18 June
2012 - Legislation to further strengthen
environmental protection and tourist safety
in Antarctica has passed the Federal Parliament.
The Antarctic Treaty
(Environment Protection) Amendment Bill
2011 was introduced in November last year
to implement three measures agreed to by
nations under the Antarctic Treaty and its
Madrid Protocol.
Environment Minister
Tony Burke said the passage of this Bill
reaffirmed Australia's position as a world
leader in Antarctic protection and research
and demonstrated Australia's continued commitment
to the pristine continent.
"Antarctica is
like no other place on earth and Australia
has been a leader in ensuring it stays that
way.
"Australia is currently
hosting the world's Antarctic nations at
the 35th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
in Hobart which recognises our status as
a world leading hub of Antarctic and Southern
Ocean Science.
"The Antarctic
Treaty system focuses international cooperation
to protect the Antarctic environment, and
treats the continent as a natural reserve
devoted to peace and science.
"The passage of
this Bill demonstrates Australia's continued
willingness to implement the measures agreed
by the Antarctic Treaty nations and encourage
others to do the same.
"Tourists go to
Antarctica to experience its magnificence
and this legislation will help to ensure
people are able to experience the wonder
of Antarctica in a safe and environmentally
responsible way."
The key objects of the
legislation:
Allow the Environment
Minister to grant a safety approval or an
environmental protection approval, and to
impose conditions on such approvals
Create new offences and civil penalties
for unapproved activities, activities in
contravention with the conditions under
a safety or environmental protection approval,
and offences and civil penalties related
to environmental emergencies;
Establish a liability regime for environmental
emergencies that occur in the Antarctic
Implement new offences and civil penalties
applicable to tourist vessels operating
in the Antarctic.
+ More
World Environment Day
delivers new protection for the Great Barrier
Reef
Media release - 5 June
2012 - Environment Minister Tony Burke today
announced new funding to protect the Great
Barrier Reef from the coral eating crown-of-thorns
starfish.
In marking World Environment
Day today, Mr Burke said the Gillard Government
will engage the Association of Marine Park
Tourism Operators to remove crown-of-thorns
starfish under a new $1.43 million initiative.
“Young crown-of-thorns
starfish eat algae until they are around
six months of age when they start eating
coral and grow more rapidly, eventually
reaching almost one metre in diameter. They
spend about half of their time eating and
when in large numbers, they can destroy
coral faster than it can regenerate,” he
said.
“There is emerging evidence
that floods in the summers of 2009 to 2011
increased the flow of nutrients into the
reef creating an environment in which young
crown-of-thorns starfish flourished.
“That is why we are
taking action now to control starfish numbers
and support the resilience and diversity
of the reef, which is one of the world’s
natural treasures.”
Mr Burke said today
marks the 40th anniversary of the United
Nations’ World Environment Day.
“Protecting our oceans
from threats like acidification, coastal
runoff and pests like the crown of thorns
starfish will be a top priority for Australia
at Rio+20,” he said.
Mr Burke said the Association
of Marine Park Tourism Operators has a proven
track record of engaging its members to
control crown-of-thorns starfish through
work funded by the Australian Government.
“The project will be
implemented in close cooperation with the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
and the Australian Institute of Marine Science,”
he said.
“Today’s announcement
builds on the government’s commitment last
year of $380,000 to help the reef recover
from severe cyclone and flooding events,
which included funding to control crown–of-thorns
starfish.
“It is part of the Gillard
Government’s broader commitment to work
with communities and industry to protect
the unique values of the World Heritage
Listed Great Barrier Reef.
“This includes the $200
million Caring for our Country Reef Rescue
program, which is improving the quality
of water entering the reef lagoon by assisting
land managers to adopt sustainable land
management practices.
“It also complements
recent commitments of the Gillard Government
in the last budget to provide $8 million
to ensure the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority can continue its management
and community-based Reef Guardian programs;
funding of $12.5 million to the Great Barrier
Reef Foundation, which raises funds for
research to support the resilience of the
reef and its ability to respond to climate
change, and funding of $1.8 million a year
to implement the Great Barrier Reef Climate
Change Action Plan.”
+ More
World Heritage Committee
decision on Great Barrier Reef
Media release - 29 June
2012 - The World Heritage Committee has
accepted a draft decision on the state of
conservation of the Great Barrier Reef World
Heritage Area released by UNESCO in June.
Federal Environment
Minister Tony Burke acknowledged the Committee’s
decision, which was made at its 36th session
in St Petersburg overnight.
“This decision reflects
the World Heritage Committee and UNESCO’s
awareness that Australia’s management of
the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
is international best practice in many areas,’’
Mr Burke said.
“However, there is no
doubt that the Great Barrier Reef, like
all coral reefs around the world, is subject
to a range of threats, which are clearly
acknowledged in the Outlook Report on the
Great Barrier Reef that was prepared by
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
in 2009.
“We know that these
issues are complex and will take time to
manage, but the Gillard Government is committed
to addressing them through a range of approaches
both on land and in the marine environment.
“The World Heritage
Committee report recognises the excellence
of our management of marine protected areas
and they have asked us to strengthen the
sharing of our best practices and success
stories with other World Heritage sites
facing similar challenges.
“The report acknowledges
the comprehensive strategic assessment of
the Great Barrier Reef currently being undertaken
with the Queensland Government.
“It will be by far the
largest and most comprehensive and complex
assessment undertaken in Australia.”
Mr Burke said that the
Australian and Queensland governments will
work together to respond to the decisions.
“The World Heritage
Committee decision requires detailed consideration.
We will need to determine appropriate responses
to the recommendations, keeping in mind
that many of the recommendations reinforce
processes that are already well underway,’’
Mr Burke said.
“The Great Barrier Reef
is one of the world's greatest natural wonders
and an internationally renowned tourism
hot spot.
“Millions of visitors
come to the Reef each year to experience
and enjoy its natural beauty. The Gillard
Government is committed to ensuring the
best possible protection and management
for this amazing place.”
Mr Burke said the decision
was made following discussion and consideration
of a draft decision and state of conservation
report developed by members of a joint monitoring
mission to the Great Barrier Reef by the
World Heritage Centre and International
Union for the Conservation of Nature.
