Chapter 3: Key Environment Activities (continued)

 

Natural and cultural heritage

Protecting and conserving Australia's heritage places

Australia's most outstanding heritage assets will be identified and conserved under the Government's proposed heritage regime. In 2002-03, new heritage legislation will be introduced into the Parliament to provide, for the first time, substantive protection of heritage places.

The new heritage regime will enable the Government to focus on protecting nationally significant heritage places and, in cooperation with States and Territories, to define national standards for heritage assessment, conservation, and protection. The new regime will also identify and protect heritage places under Commonwealth control.

An independent expert advisory body, the Australian Heritage Council, will be established to advise on the listing and protection of heritage places.

The national heritage regime will build upon the existing framework in the EPBC Act and complement the World Heritage protection regime that already operates under that Act.

The Government will work cooperatively with the States and Territories through the newly established Environment Protection and Heritage Council to protect Australia's environment and heritage. The Council represents an amalgamation of the environmental protection functions of the former Australian and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council (ANZECC), the National Environment Protection Council, and the Heritage Ministers' Meeting.

Protecting World Heritage

The Government will continue to ensure that Australia's World Heritage properties are protected and managed to the highest standard. Continuing protection and conservation of these properties will also be achieved through implementation of the EPBC Act.

Over the next three years, the Government will work cooperatively with the States to complete management plans for all of Australia's World Heritage properties. It will develop, cooperatively with States, capacity building initiatives to enhance the involvement of Indigenous Australians and local communities in the management of Australia's World Heritage properties.

The Government supports Australia's World Heritage nomination of Purnululu National Park. An assessment of the Melbourne Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens will be completed in 2002-03 and consideration will be given to nomination of this site for World Heritage listing.

The Government continues to meet its World Heritage obligations at an international level, including promotion of the World Heritage Convention in the Asia-Pacific region through programmes under the Asia-Pacific Focal Point for World Heritage Managers.

Conserving national heritage

The Australian Heritage Commission will continue to identify and conserve the National Estate until the Commonwealth's new heritage legislation is enacted.

The Government is committed to identifying and conserving places of cultural heritage significance in Australia in partnership with local government, non-profit community organisations and private owners of heritage places.

In 2002-03, the Government will continue to support the Cultural Heritage Projects Programme and approximately $3 million will be available to organisations and individuals involved in cultural heritage activities. Grants-in-Aid will be provided to the National Trust to support their ongoing conservation and advocacy role throughout Australia.

The Government continues to fund the $5 million provided through the Rural and Regional Historic Hotels Programme for the restoration or preservation of selected buildings.

Funding will continue to support conservation and management of the Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area on Norfolk Island. This area is managed in partnership with the Norfolk Island Government and contains one of the finest collections of Georgian buildings in the Commonwealth.

In 2002-03, a new National Maritime Heritage Strategy will be developed in recognition of our national responsibility to protect Australia's maritime heritage. Further protection will be provided by continued support of the Historic Shipwrecks Programme, through which the Government will continue to administer the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 in cooperation with the States and Territories.

In 2002-03 Environment Australia will commence formal consultation on the newly adopted UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, with a view to a Government decision on ratification by 2003.

The Government will continue to protect and manage the unique natural and cultural heritage values of properties on Sydney Harbour. These properties include former defence sites at North Head, Middle Head-Georges Heights, Cockatoo Island, Woolwich Dock, Macquarie Lightstation and the former Marine Biological Research Station at Watsons Bay. Ownership of Snapper Island and the Macquarie Lightstation at Vaucluse will be transferred from the Department of Finance and Administration to the Department of the Environment and Heritage in 2002-03 and will subsequently be vested in the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. In 2002-03 some $10.6 million will be spent on security, maintenance, and in preparing management plans for these properties. This will involve extensive public consultation and a programme of decontamination and remediation for some sites.

Protection for Australia's movable cultural heritage will be achieved by managing its export in accordance with the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986. In 2002-03 the Government will assist with the acquisition of significant cultural objects for public collections through the National Cultural Heritage Account.

Indigenous heritage and environment issues will be addressed through programmes providing for the identification, protection, preservation and management of cultural property by Indigenous people. The Government has proposed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Bill 1998 to replace the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984. This will provide an improved Commonwealth regime for processing applications for heritage protection and a system of accreditation of State and Territory Indigenous heritage protection regimes.

Antarctica

The continent of Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean profoundly influence the climate and environment of Australia and that of the whole Southern Hemisphere. The Southern Ocean's rich ecosystems are of enormous economic and environmental importance to Australia and the world.

Australia continues to play a leading role in protecting the Antarctic environment. The scientific and policy efforts of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) underpin Australia's position within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and other fora. Two of the Government's four goals for its Antarctic Programme have an environmental focus: protecting the Antarctic environment, and understanding the region's role in global processes. In its role of leading Australia's Antarctic Programme, the AAD is responsible for implementing these goals.

In 2002-03, the AAD will be supporting these goals with numerous activities. These include scientific research, participation in international fora, site remediation, use of renewable energy, species protection, and the development of a tourism strategy.

Understanding the Southern Ocean ecosystem

A management regime to protect the Antarctic environment from one of its greatest threats - the over-harvesting of marine living resources - involves resource assessments, research into ecosystem dynamics, ecosystem monitoring, and resource management policy.

Initiatives in 2002-03 include: studies of the availability and movement of krill near the Antarctic coast; albatross vulnerability to long-line fisheries; diet and movement of seals, whales and seabirds; and advanced modelling for assessing resources. AAD researchers will also monitor inter-annual variability in whale distribution and abundance in relation to prey characteristics, and relate distribution, abundance, and biomass of baleen whales to krill population dynamics.

Understanding Antarctica's role in global climate systems

To improve climate predictions, AAD scientists are investigating the marine environment of the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean. Changes in oceanic currents and temperatures will be documented. Also, research will help understand and model the transport, mixing, dispersion, and fate of water bodies, chemical species and energy near the coast of Antarctica.

Amery Ice Shelf - Ocean Interaction (AMISOR)

Our understanding of global climate processes will be further advanced with a multi-disciplinary study in east Antarctica. The continuing study aims to determine water flow patterns beneath and in front of the Amery Ice Shelf, one of the major floating ice shelves fringing Antarctica.

The AMISOR team will use data retrieved from two 400 metre boreholes in the iceshelf and from data-gathering moorings to calculate how melting and re-freezing beneath the shelf changes ocean water characteristics and influences global ocean circulation. The data will also reveal how the ice shelf-ocean interaction is affected by climate change. Researchers will also collect satellite and field measurements of the ice shelf dynamics and further develop numerical models of the ice shelf and the ocean for predicting climatic change.

Laser radar provides insight into atmosphere

An atmospheric lidar (or laser radar) installed at Australia's Davis station is being used to determine the magnitude of changes occurring in the mesosphere (50 to 90 kilometres above the surface of the Earth). It will also analyse clouds in the stratosphere (10 to 50 kilometres altitude) to understand their interaction with ozone depletion. The research will additionally examine the link between clouds in the mesosphere and increased greenhouse gases, such as water vapour and methane. It will be used to determine whether human activities are influencing the middle atmosphere.

Fine-tuning environmental management and performance

The AAD has developed a range of environmental protection measures and procedures that cover all of its Antarctic and Australian-based activities. An environmental management system is being developed to complement existing measures and to indicate areas where changes are required to achieve continual improvements in environmental performance. The AAD aims to have its system certified to ISO Standard 14001 by the end of 2002, placing it at the forefront of Antarctic Treaty nations' initiatives for environmental excellence.

Conserving historic and heritage sites

Consistent with the Mawson's Huts Conservation Management Plan, the Commonwealth will pursue the partnership between Government and private bodies to conserve the site of Douglas Mawson's historic 1911-14 Antarctic expedition. The AAD will continue its assessment of Antarctic and subantarctic historic sites, and develop conservation management plans for those places that are of significance. It will also prepare a revised management plan for the World Heritage-listed Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands.

Government funding to the Mawson's Huts Foundation will enable a third AAD expedition in the 2002-03 summer to complete the task of stabilising the huts, particularly the roof and walls. The Government, the corporate sector and the community fund the Foundation.

In the spirit of cooperation that characterises work in the Antarctic, transport to the site, which is far away from the usual area of Australian Antarctic operations, will be provided by the French Antarctic Research Programme.

Remediating abandoned sites

The AAD is developing procedures and techniques for clean-up, remediation, and monitoring of abandoned waste disposal sites in accordance with its international obligations. Trials of the techniques are being conducted at a small tip-site at Casey station, with the priority of ensuring removal does not cause more environmental harm than leaving the waste in place. With the successful conclusion of this trial, the remediation of the abandoned Wilkes station and other waste sites can begin.

Mawson Project Pioneers Renewable Energy The Australian Antarctic Division is making a concerted effort to conserve energy and reduce station dependence on fossil fuels for power generation. The use of alternative energies promise to make Antarctic operations more environmentally sound and efficient. Over the past decade energy conservation measures have reduced the amount of fuel used to power Australia's three Antarctic research stations by approximately 25 per cent. The recent installation of a building monitoring control system has contributed to 15 per cent of this reduction, with further savings expected in the near future. For many years scientists and operations personnel have utilised solar-powered batteries to power their radio, computer and other equipment in the field. New initiatives now being developed will harness wind - an abundant Antarctic resource. The installation of wind turbines at Mawson station has the potential to reduce fossil fuel consumption by as much as 75 per cent, with correspondingly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and a lower risk of fuel spills that could damage the environment. The integrated wind-fuel system will use advanced energy storage technology, potentially allowing Mawson to run entirely on wind power during suitable conditions.

 

Chapter 4: Cross Portfolio Initiatives

Australia's future prosperity hinges on an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable society. This can be achieved only if government works effectively with industry, technology users, scientists, and policy makers across a range of disciplines.

The need for such an approach was identified in the independent 2001 State of the Environment (SoE) Report.

The Australian Government realises the importance of working cooperatively to provide a strong, whole-of-government approach to issues of environmental sustainability. In 2002 the Sustainable Environment Committee of Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, was established to achieve this goal.

Environmental research, information and training

Research supports sustainability

Australia's ability to generate new knowledge, ideas and skills through research is the basis for developing and applying technological responses to reduce pressures on Australia's environment. It is also the basis for developing sound environmental policy.

Bilateral relationships between the funding bodies and universities, industry, and government are the cornerstone of Australia's capacity to strategically invest in research that is of the highest quality and greatest potential benefit to the Australian community.

Specific initiatives include:

• The Australian Research Council will advance Australia's environmental research capacity through strategic investment on behalf of the Australian community of over $35 million in 2002 for projects and programmes with environmental objectives.
• The Government's Cooperative Research Centres address environmental issues such as managing dryland salinity, freshwater ecology, greenhouse accounting, waste management, and sustainable tourism and heritage. Many of these solutions have long-term social and economic benefits to rural, regional and urban communities.
• Australia's leading scientific institute in environmental and agricultural research, the CSIRO, in 2002-03 will spend over $34 million on research directed at advancing Australia's sustainability agenda.
• The Australian Institute for Marine Science is solely committed to marine research and will spend $26.1 million on research to support the sustainable use and development of Australia's marine resources.
• Defence invests in a range of environmental research initiatives to subsequently develop a better understanding of how its activities impact on the environment and identify strategies to minimise those impacts.

Monitoring and prediction supports sustainability

Atmospheric, oceanographic and hydrological research, monitoring, prediction and the provision of associated meteorological services play an important role in protecting and conserving the environment.

As part of Australia's contribution to the Global Atmosphere Watch, the Bureau of Meteorology monitors atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, ozone depleting substances and other long-range pollutants. Recent implementation of the Australian component of the Global Climate Observing System will provide valuable data that help detect climate trends and enable model enhancements leading to improved climate change projections and environment related services.

The Bureau participates in the World Climate Research Programme and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It also provides scientific advice on a range of issues of global concern, such as climate change and the protection of the ozone layer.

In 2002-03 activities undertaken by the Bureau of Meteorology that support environmental objectives include:

• Enhancing the ozone and ultra violet (UV) monitoring networks to underpin the UV Index Forecast Service with, for example, state of the art UVB and total ozone instruments installed at Alice Springs and Darwin.
• Upgrading the Environmental Emergency Response Service by improving computer models that identify areas likely to be affected by the accidental release of hazardous materials into the atmosphere.
• In cooperation with CSIRO Marine Research, the Bureau will commence the deployment of profiling floats for the Argo (Array for real-time geostrophic oceanography) Programme. A total of 20 floats will be deployed over the next two years. The data will be used for research and to improve and develop meteorological and oceanographic services.
• Working with the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology to enhance management of large catchments, such as the Murray-Darling Basin. This work includes improving linkages between numerical weather prediction and hydrological models and improving monitoring and prediction of water budgets.

UV Forecasts for Sun Safety Exposure to UV (ultra violet) radiation and the number of severe sunburns received, especially during childhood, increases the risk of developing skin cancer. With over 700,000 skin cancers removed each year, at a cost to the Federal Government of over $300 million, the importance of UV awareness and protection against sun damage cannot be overestimated. The Bureau of Meteorology now issues daily forecasts of the maximum UV intensity for 180 locations throughout Australia. The forecasts are available via the mass media or through the Bureau's website www.bom.gov.au. The UV Index Forecast service was developed and implemented in close consultation with State and Territory bodies of The Cancer Council Australia. The partnership continues with the development and promotion of activities and information products that raise the public's awareness of the dangers of UV radiation. Ongoing initiatives to underpin the forecast service include research on the impact of cloudiness, modernisation of the monitoring network used to measure ozone and UV levels, and the extension of routine observations used as input to the service.

Information technology and data

Information technology provides tools that help the Government assess our progress towards a socially, economically and environmentally viable future.

High-tech systems and products support sustainability

Geoscience Australia will work collaboratively with other government agencies to develop laptop-based geo-spatial decision support systems, maps and satellite imagery products, and to provide data, global position systems and satellite laser ranging facilities.

Geographic information systems and satellite imagery provide reliable data on the marine environment, land and environmental management, human health and safety, vegetation health, agricultural productivity, and infrastructure development. Geodetic data helps monitor and predict climate change, natural disasters and changes in sea levels.

Data aid monitoring and policy response

The only major national and comprehensive report on the environment is the independent 2001 State of the Environment (SoE) Report that is produced for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage under the EPBC Act. The 2001 SoE Report comprised about 1,000 maps, tables, charts and figures.

The 2001 SoE Report provides information about the condition of and prospects for the Australian environment. It is an information source for government to develop policy responses to environmental pressures.

As part of its environment programme, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will spend $1.6 million in 2002-03 on a range of activities, including the production of its annual thematic publication on contemporary environmental issues, the development of environmental accounts, and the development and conduct of surveys on environmental issues such as salinity. This continues the ongoing role of the ABS in coordinating and standardising data relating to the environment and the provision of this data to all sectors.

The Environmental Resource Information Network (ERIN) provides extensive environmental data online to assist in environmental decision making by the community, industry and government.

Incentives for sustainability

The Government provides a range of incentives for future sustainability including structural adjustment packages for regional communities and a range of taxation measures for landholders and primary producers to encourage sustainable practices.

Support for conservation on private land

The Government provides a range of incentives to encourage private sector investment in natural resource management.

The tax system provides incentives aimed at encouraging philanthropy and protection of high quality native vegetation as follows:

• tax deductions for gifts of property over $5000 to eligible organisations, apportionable over five years
• Capital Gains Tax exemption for gifts of property left in a will to an eligible organisation
• zero or reduced Capital Gains Tax liability for landholders who enter into a perpetual conservation covenant in return for a payment
• income tax deduction for any reduction in land value from a landowner entering into a perpetual conservation covenant with an eligible organisation, voluntarily and where no payment is received.

The Revolving Fund initiative provides funding of up to $1 million per State through the Natural Heritage Trust. The initiative aims to establish revolving fund schemes that purchase private land of high conservation value, place a covenant on it and on-sell the land to a sympathetic purchaser, revolving the fund for further purchases.

Sustainable Regions Programme supports rural communities

Through the Sustainable Regions Programme the Government will provide $95 million over four years to rural communities facing economic, social and environmental challenges.

Positive environmental outcomes are encouraged through:

• the Australian Taxation Office's Capital Gains Tax treatment of perpetual conservation covenants
• implementation of a broad range of initiatives in partnership with industry and the States and Territories to ensure an integrated support platform for the development and uptake of environmental management systems by Australian agriculturalists.

The Government also works in partnership with local governments to foster environmental outcomes at the local level through the Local Agenda 21 initiative, and with community groups through labour market programmes that support sustainability objectives.

Green Corps develops Australia's youth

In 2002-03, the Government will spend $23 million to fund training opportunities and work experience for young people through the Green Corps Programme.

The programme provides opportunities for people 17 to 20 years old to demonstrate their commitment to the environment by participating in projects addressing significant environment and heritage issues. Since 1996, nearly six million trees have been planted and over 31,000 hectares of weeds removed by Green Corps' 8,000 participants.

Encouraging sustainability within Government

The Government provides a support service to help agencies implement ecologically sustainable development by:

• helping agencies to assess sustainability impacts of new regulations
• implementing sustainable development reporting requirements under s516A of the EPBC Act.

The Commonwealth Local Agenda 21 Programme facilitates adoption of sustainability principles and practices at local level. In the past four years the number of local governments participating in, or committed to, Local Agenda 21 has more than doubled.

The Commonwealth will provide $500,000 in 2002-03 to fund the Environmental Resource Officers scheme to help local councils to achieve environmental objectives. Apart from helping local governments improve their environmental performance, the programme also facilitates access by local government to Commonwealth environment programmes such as Bushcare, Cities for Climate Protection, and heritage protection initiatives.

Global sustainability-Australia's role

Some sustainability issues transcend national boundaries. As a global citizen, Australia is influencing international environmental policy directions through a range of bilateral, regional and multilateral activities that are focused on promoting global, ecologically sustainable development.

International activities advance sustainability objectives

Throughout the year, Australia is involved in a range of international meetings that address issues of environmental concern:

• Australia is preparing for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. In consultation with interest groups within Australia, the Government is seeking to have the Summit concentrate on a number of priority issues and agree to concrete measures for further sustainable development at global, regional, and national levels. Australia is giving special attention to oceans, community-based land management, and national level governance as issues for the Summit.
• The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar, has a negotiating mandate that includes work on trade and the environment. Australia will participate in negotiations that will give effect to the mandate and will seek to ensure that the outcomes of WTO negotiations contribute to, or are consistent with, Australia's environmental policy.
• Through high-level participation in the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and its various commissions, Australia contributes significantly to global meteorological decision making and scientific and technological planning directly related to sustainability. Situated in the oceanic southern hemisphere, Australia benefits enormously from the international cooperation and information sharing fostered under the WMO framework. In December 2002 Australia will host an Extraordinary Session of the WMO Commission for Basic Systems and associated meetings.

Progress Points to Better Marine Sustainability

Positive news for the marine environment includes strong indications that Australia is managing its marine resources with increased sustainability. By December 2003, under the requirements of the EPBC Act, the environmental performance of all commercial export fisheries will be evaluated.

Major fisheries that have been assessed as meeting the requirements under the new arrangements include the Tasmanian Rock lobster and abalone fisheries, which provide a significant proportion of the world's production of those species, and the Queensland Spanner Crab fishery.

This is part of Australia's responsibility for meeting a number of international commitments on the marine environment, including the conservation of marine biodiversity on the high seas and marine pollution prevention.

Australia will continue to play a leading role in such international fora as the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing for Patagonian toothfish. The AAD works vigorously with other government agencies in combating the serious and increasing threat that such fishing poses to Australia's environment and other national interests in our subantarctic territorial waters.

Assistance to Developing Nations

Australia's international assistance towards environmental sustainability is focused on the Asia-Pacific region. It includes activities in the areas of natural resource management, oceans, the atmosphere, biological diversity, deforestation, and desertification.

Specific forms of assistance include the following:

• AusAID will provide an estimated $60 million for activities that directly address environmental problems in developing countries, with an additional $135 million of indirect expenditure.
• Through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, over $1 million will be provided for collaborative research projects between Australia and developing country researchers on problems of mutual importance. Many of these projects focus on the long-term productivity, management, and conservation of land and water resources in Australia and developing countries.
• Continued assistance to the national meteorological services of neighbouring developing countries. Such assistance includes providing advice (for example on the potential for dispersion of airborne matter) and technical support (such as in the standardisation and calibration of radiation and ozone equipment).

Working with the Indigenous community

A key precept of ecologically sustainable development is respect for the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples.

Through programmes that provide for the identification, protection, preservation, and management of cultural property and areas of significance to Indigenous people, the Government is committed to ensuring the full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in progressing ecologically sustainable development.

Work undertaken through other portfolios includes the following:

• The Indigenous Land Corporation will provide funding in 2002-03 to assist Indigenous people acquire land and manage Indigenous-held land. This will help Indigenous Australians achieve social, cultural, economic, and environmentally sustainable benefits for themselves and future generations.
• In 2002-03 the Government will continue to fund the Community Development Employment Projects Programme. The programme provides Indigenous Australians with the opportunity to work on a wide range of community development projects and enterprises, many of which have a positive environmental focus and provide training and work experience in environment, land and heritage projects.
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) advances the participation of Indigenous peoples in land management by funding Native Title Representative Bodies under Part 11 of the Native Title Act 1993. ATSIC also plays an important advocacy role for Indigenous Australians by raising awareness of their rights in relation to land and sea management.

The recognition of Native Title has the potential to enhance environmental outcomes by allowing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples access to, and in some instances control over, their traditional country in order to manage land in accordance with traditional environmental management practices.

Environment Australia works cooperatively with Indigenous communities by encouraging the application of traditional knowledge and land management practices and by employing Indigenous people in natural and cultural resource management activities in jointly managed National Parks.

Industries based on traditional knowledge The Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation is made up of traditional Aboriginal women who hold an immense and unique knowledge of appropriate harvesting methods of natural resources in Central Australia. Based in Alice Springs, the NPY is playing an important role in developing natural resource industries based on traditional knowledge. The NPY aims to: establish a sustainable seed and bush food collective support capacity building in communities and promote the use of sustainable native plants in existing local Aboriginal nurseries preserve traditional knowledge of land management practices enable Aboriginal women to improve their quality of life through economic gains. The native bushfoods picked by the women are sold to Outback Bushfoods. Foods harvested include acacia seeds for bread and damper, and bush tomatoes (which are proving to be a popular commodity in community stores). NPY Council members will continue to harvest bushfoods thereby ensuring a continuation of the traditional land management practices that are needed to sustain the environment.

Community Representation

All Commonwealth portfolios ensure the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on a number of decision-making and advisory bodies. In relation to land management, Environment Australia seeks Indigenous representation through a number of programmes.

Implementing the Natural Heritage Trust

The Commonwealth has employed 13 Indigenous Land Management Facilitators to work with local Indigenous communities. These facilitators develop natural resource management projects utilising the assistance available through the Natural Heritage Trust. They also help to prepare funding submissions and to help implement funded projects and drawing on this experience provide policy advice to government on how to improve Indigenous involvement with the Natural Heritage Trust.

Advice on Indigenous Protected Areas

The Indigenous Protected Areas Advisory Group provides policy advice to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage on the development of the Indigenous Protected Areas Programme. This programme funds the establishment of Indigenous Protected Areas on Indigenous owned lands and the development of joint-management arrangements on existing protected areas.

Indigenous input to environment legislation

The Indigenous Advisory Committee established under the EPBC Act advises the Minister for the Environment and Heritage on the operation of the Act, taking into account the significance of Indigenous people's knowledge of land and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Network Helps Protect Indigenous Heritage

The National Indigenous Cultural Heritage Officer Network comprises over 600 locally based Indigenous officers, cultural custodians and elders. The Network recognises and promotes the role of Indigenous people protecting the lands, waterways, seas, and spiritual places of Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples in accordance with customary law.

Appendix 1: Environment Activities by Portfolio

Table A1.1: Environment activities by portfolio

Portfolios	Major environmental responsibilities.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	Develops policies and programmes for agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries that are based on the sustainable management of and access to natural resources.
Australian Fisheries Management Authority	Ensures the sustainable use and efficient management of Commonwealth fisheries resources.
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service	Provides quarantine services to prevent entry of exotic pests and diseases, and to inspect and certify export goods prescribed under the Export Control Act 1982.
Bureau of Rural Sciences	Provides scientific advice to government in support of sustainable Australian agricultural, food, fisheries, and forestry industries.
Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation	Provides national leadership in generating knowledge, informing debate and inspiring innovation and action in sustainable natural resource management.
Murray-Darling Basin Commission	Manages the River Murray and the Menindee Lakes system, and advises and assists the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council in relation to the management of natural resources in the Basin.
Attorney-General's	Provides community-based environmental legal services and environment-related legal advice.
Australian Customs Service	Provides border operations to control potentially environmentally damaging imports and exports.
Australian Government Solicitor	Provides legal services on environmental matters to Commonwealth departments and agencies.
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	Responsible for radio frequency and electromagnetic energy research and information.
Defence	Management of the environmental impact of Defence activities. Conservation of energy, natural resources, and the environmental values of the Defence estate.
Education, Science and Training	Provides environmental education materials and professional development to teachers, and support for research and research training.
Australian Institute of Marine Science	Researches the sustainable use and protection of Australia's marine environment.
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation	Develops environmental applications using ANSTO's nuclear expertise and facilities.
Australian Research Council	Promotes higher education research (including environmental research).
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation	Largest single contributor to environmental research in Australia, particularly focused on ecologically sustainable development in natural resource-based energy, manufacturing, and other sectors.
Environment and Heritage	Primarily responsible for environmental policy, with a broad range of environmental programmes.
Australian Antarctic Division	Researches marine and terrestrial biology, atmosphere, ice-atmosphere interactions and climate change, and protection of the Antarctic environment.
Australian Greenhouse Office	Coordinates domestic climate change policy and manages the delivery of major new and existing Commonwealth greenhouse programmes.
Australian Heritage Commission	Values and conserves natural and cultural heritage places.

Continued

Table A1.1: Environment activities by portfolio (continued)

Portfolios	Major environmental responsibilities
Bureau of Meteorology	Responsible for atmospheric, oceanographic and hydrological monitoring, research and service provision.
Director of National Parks	Responsible for managing Commonwealth protected areas.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority	Protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef.
Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator	Supports increasing generation of low greenhouse intensity electricity.
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust	Conserves and manages heritage properties on Sydney Harbour.
National Oceans Office	Implements Australia's Oceans Policy.
Family and Community Services	Provision of Green Corps.
Green Corps	Provides training opportunities and practical experience for young Australians that address significant environmental and heritage issues.
Finance and Administration	Monitors Commonwealth environment spending and contributes to environment policy.
Foreign Affairs and Trade	Promotes solutions to international environmental issues consistent with Australia's trade, economic and environmental interests.
Australian Agency for International Development	Responsible for overseas aid programmes advancing Australia's national interests by assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research	Achieves more productive and sustainable agricultural systems, for the benefit of developing countries and Australia, through international agricultural research partnerships.
Health and Ageing	A range of environmental health activities as well as contributions to chemical assessments.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency	Protects the health of the environment from the effects of radiation.
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator	Manages the potential risks of gene technology to the environment.
Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	Monitors the relationship between the environment and population change. Contributes to the development of Indigenous heritage and environment protection policies.
Indigenous Land Corporation	Indigenous land management programme.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage protection, native title, employment and housing programmes.
Industry, Tourism and Resources	Develops, implements and administers policies, programmes and services designed to promote the international competitiveness of Australian manufacturing, resources and services industries, including tourism; and develops Australia's technology capabilities and infrastructure.
Geoscience Australia	Conducts geological research to help manage Australia's environment and natural resources.
Geoscience Australia - National Mapping Division	Provides fundamental geographic information for environmental monitoring and natural resource management.

 

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