NATURAL RESOURCE ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTRALIA

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This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th, 6th and 9th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 2001.

Click here for Safeguarding the Future: Australia's Response to Climate Change'.

Click here for the Sustainable Energy Policy for Australia Green Paper.

Click here for the Australian Greenhouse Office.

Click here for Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council (ANZMEC).

Click here for Minerals & Petroleum, Resources Policy Statement

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FORESTS

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

The Commonwealth Government is Australia's national government and is responsible for coordinating a national approach to both environmental and ecologically sustainable management of forests for wood production. It has an interest in achieving the efficient and effective management of the nation's resources. The Commonwealth Government enacts legislation to achieve national policies and is also responsible for Australia's international affairs and international treaty obligations.

The State and Territory governments have direct responsibility for forest management through their constitutional responsibility for land use decisions and their ownership of large areas of forest. Each State and Territory government has enacted legislation that allocates forest land tenures and specifies how public and private forests are managed.

Local governments have responsibilities for local land use planning and rating systems, which affect public and private forest management and use.

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

In 1992, the Commonwealth and State governments developed a common policy position on forests, known as the National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS). The NFPS is the primary means by which the objective of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biodiversity will be accomplished in forest ecosystems. The NFPS sets out objectives concerning conservation, wood production and timber industries development, use of private native forests, development of plantations, water supply and catchment area management, tourism development, employment, workforce education, public awareness and involvement, research and development, and the further development of intergovernmental arrangements and the decision making process.

A key element of the approach adopted under the NFPS involves Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) between the Commonwealth and State governments, which are being developed following comprehensive studies of forest values and consultation with stakeholders. After December 31 1999 the export of hardwood woodchips will be prohibited from areas not covered by an RFA. The agreements seek to conserve the full suite of environmental and heritage values that forests can provide for current and future generations by ensuring the forest conservation reserve system is comprehensive, adequate and representative (known as the CAR reserve system) and through the complementary ecologically sustainable management of forests outside reserves in regions to which RFAs apply.

The following criteria are applied flexibly to define these forest reserves - 15% of the pre-1750 distribution of each forest type, 60% of the old-growth forest and 90% or more of high quality wilderness.

Secure access to wood resources is provided through these agreements, enabling continued development of internationally competitive and ecologically sustainable industries. Furthermore, the Commonwealth Government is reforming national forest stakeholder advisory bodies to ensure communication between governments, industry, unions and conservation organizations. In 1992, the High Court of Australia gave formal recognition to the common law native title rights of Australia's Indigenous inhabitants and the Commonwealth Government passed the Native Title Act 1993 as a consequence.

By the end of 1999 RFAs are expected to be finalised for 12 forest regions in five States. Approximately 6 million hectares of forest were set aside from logging pending finalisation of RFAs. These arrangements ensured that options remained open from which to establish a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system. About 20% of forests are in declared nature conservation reserves with at least a further 8% managed as conservation reserves within multiple use forests, also known as State Forests. Most State governments already have comprehensive codes of forest practice in place. Six RFAs have been completed. In Victoria the East Gippsland, Central Highlands and North East RFAs were signed in February 1997, March 1998 and August 1999 respectively. An RFA for the whole of Tasmania was signed in November 1997, and RFAs for South West West Australia and Eden in NSW were signed in May 1999 and August 1999.

Australia has a solid framework for the delivery of sustainable forest management. This framework includes:

• The National ESD Strategy (1992);
• The National Forest Policy Statement (1992);
• A Regional Forest Agreement process which:
• includes the development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative forest reserve system;
• encourages an internationally competitive industry with a strong focus on value adding;
• includes commitment to continuous improvements of reserve management; and
• includes ecologically sustainable management of public and private off reserve forest.
• National Criteria for the Establishment of a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative Reserve System for Forests in Australia (1997);
• A Regional Framework of Criteria and Indicators (1998);
• National Principles for Wood Production in Native Forests and Plantations, and the development and continued improvement of Codes of Practice consistent with the National Principles (1991);
• Development of environmental management systems, consistent with ISO 14001, for State and Territory forestry agencies and some private forestry organisations;
• Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment (1992);
• National Greenhouse Response Strategy (1992) and the National Greenhouse Strategy (1998);
• National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity (1997); and
• Appropriate institutional frameworks including State Forestry and Conservation agencies, Ministerial Council and multilateral agreements and policies based on cooperative decision-making processes.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

The National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development outlines a sectoral and intersectoral approach to sustainable development. The Strategy was endorsed and released by the Council of Australian Governments. It outlines key objectives for the management of Australia's native forests. The Council agreed that future development of relevant programs and policies, particularly those which are national in character, should take place within the framework of the Strategy and the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment.

Australia's National Forest Policy sets out broad conservation and industry goals for the management of Australia's forests. To implement this national policy, Governments have opted for an approach that involves:

• providing interim protection to forest areas which may be required for a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) forest reserve system;
• undertaking Comprehensive Regional Assessments (CRAs) of environment, heritage, economic and social values of forests;
• Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) finalised between the Commonwealth and State Governments about the long term management and use of forests in particular regions.

Together these mechanisms have improved the harmonisation of cross-sectoral polices related to forests.

A Wood and Paper Industry Strategy was announced in 1995 and comprised a four year Federal Government initiative to encourage investment, value adding and jobs growth in the forest industries. The Strategy details actions to promote continued development of a diverse, internationally competitive industry based on ecologically sustainable management practices. It is a key element in integrating industry and conservation objectives for Australia's native forests and plantations.

In October 1997, governments and industry agreed on a strategy called - Plantations for Australia: the 2020 Vision aimed at trebling Australia's forest plantation estate by the year 2020. The Plantations 2020 Vision initiative builds on a target to treble the nation's plantation estate over the period 1996-2020. This target was adopted by industry following the release of a joint Commonwealth-State-industry report. The primary objective of the Plantations 2020 Vision is to build internationally competitive and commercially orientated plantation growing and processing industries. It aims to ensure that plantation forestry in Australia presents as a model of environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Environmental benefits include a substantial contribution to reducing Australia's net greenhouse gas emissions and improved land management outcomes. Other expected benefits include a turnaround in the trade deficit for wood and wood products, rural development (including creation of up to 40,000 jobs) and diversification of rural incomes.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

Indigenous Australians possess a range of land titles. These fall into a number of categories including general titles, specific statutory titles, and specific common law titles. The general titles include purchased freehold and leasehold titles (for example, land purchased by the Indigenous Land Corporation). The specific statutory titles include: inalienable freehold (Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth), Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 (SA)), statutory trusts (Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (WA)), deeds of grant in trust (Land Act 1962-1988 (Qld), Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld)), Aboriginal Reserves, and excisions and community living area (Crown Lands Act 1991 (NT), Pastoral Land Act 1992 (NT)).

The rights arising from these titles include access rights, rights to hunt and fish, rights to exclusive possession and rights which are roughly equivalent to private freehold. There are also procedural rights held by indigenous people which exceed those available to the wider community. These include the right to negotiate in relation to actions which may affect the use and enjoyment of native title (Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), ss.25-44.) and the right to veto mining exploration on Aboriginal land (Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth), s.42).

Generally, Aboriginal land is held communally either by native title holders or by a community organisation in trust for the benefit of traditional owners, etc.

Programmes and Projects   

The Farm Forestry Program (FFP) is one of sixteen environmental programs funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, the foundation of the Commonwealth Government's program to restore and conserve Australia's land, vegetation, rivers, biodiversity, coast and seas.

The FFP, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry aims to promote:

• farm forestry on cleared agricultural land for a range of benefits;
• commercial wood production on cleared agricultural land as an integral part of profitable wood-based industries;
• development of new tree-crop products and industries with an emphasis on native species; and
• sustainable management and use of private native forest and woodland.

The FFP continues to raise the national awareness of farm forestry, promoting a shift in the culture of landowners towards growing trees for commercial purposes to meet economic and environmental objectives. In addition, under the program fourteen Regional Plantation Committees have been established to address planning and coordination issues at the regional level, and to act as a catalyst for plantation and farm forestry development.

The Community Rainforest Reforestation Program in North Queensland was developed as part of responses to the cessation of logging following listing of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area. It aims to develop plantations of high quality cabinet timbers for future high value added products.

A four year Forest Ecotourism Program to encourage and facilitate ecologically sustainable forest tourism, development and operations concluded in 1996 after funding 72 projects with a budget of $1.9 million.

Status 

Australia has attended all Intergovernmental Panel on Forest sessions and many intersessional initiatives. Australia has endorsed the IPF proposals for action and has actively supported the IFF. Australia, in support of the IPF Secretariat, sponsored an intersessional meeting of experts on Certification and Labelling from 26 to 31 May 1996 in Brisbane, Australia. Australia has assessed the relevance of the IPF proposals for action against the Australian situation. This assessment highlighted that about half of the IPF proposals are relevant for implementation within Australia.

A preliminary assessment in 1998 and recent assessment in 1999 has indicated that Australia has made good progress with the implementation of a range of programs related to the IPF proposals at both the Commonwealth and State/Territory Government levels. In some cases the programs will be ongoing for a number of years (such as Regional Forest Agreements) and in a few cases some further consideration may need to be given to ensure Australia's programs fully meet the intent of the IPF proposals. It is possible that Australia might need to launch additional programs to cover some of these proposals.

To assist with an assessment of the implementation of the IPF Proposals for Action in Australia, the IPF proposals have been summarised and similar proposals grouped together. The summarised text will be used as the basis for assessing the priorities for implementation and the progress with implementation. These assessments will be undertaken in relation both to implementation of the IPF proposals within Australia and implementation by Australia in its international forests programs. To enable cross references with the original negotiated IPF text, the following tables identify to the relevant IPF paragraphs for each summarised proposal for action. The following system has been used to assign priorities for implementation and progress with implementation in this assessment:

When assigning priorities and progress for each Summarised Proposal for Action, the assessment has been made on the basis of generalised rankings for programs across the whole of Australia and in all of Australia's international programs. However, it is recognised that priorities and progress for the one Proposal for Action may vary around Australia and in different international programs.

Stakeholders are requested to provide comment on the assessment of priorities and progress with implementation for each Summarised Proposal for Action.

IA Progress Through National Forest and Land-use Programmes

IB Underlying Causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation

IC Traditional Forest - Related Knowledge (TFRK)

ID Fragile Systems Affected by Desertification and Drought

IE Impact of Airborne Pollution on Forests

IF Needs and Requirements of developing and Other Countries With Low Forest Cover

IIA Financial Assistance

IIB Technology Transfer and Capacity Building and Information

IIIA Assessment of the Multiple Benefits of All Types of Forests

IIIB Forest Research

IIIC Methodologies for the Proper Valuation of the Multiple Benefits of Forests

IIID Criteria and Indicators (C&I) for Sustainable Forest Management

Market Access (Sub titles added for purpose of this summary)

Relative Competitiveness of Forest Products

Lesser Used Forest Species

Certification and Labelling

Full Cost Internalisation

Market Transparency

V. INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSTRUMENT INCLUDING APPROPRIATE LEGAL MECHANISMS

Challenges

Areas where Australia could undertake new actions are; monitoring and reporting of the implementation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forest proposals for action, additional work relating to traditional forest related knowledge, conservation of dryland forests and research into forest valuation methods.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising 

The Commonwealth Government has committed A$30 million to a program to protect environmental values on private land as part of the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement. This money is aimed at protecting biodiversity values on private land where reservation targets were not met on public land. Rare or depleted ecological communities will be protected through stewardship agreements and purchase of land. Participation is on a voluntary basis only and landowners are encouraged to play an active role in formulation of management plans.

Information  

A National Forest Inventory was set up in 1989. A national State of the Forests report is to be produced every five years, with Australia's inaugural State of the Forests report having been published in 1998.

Australia is an active participant in the work of the 'Montreal Process' Working Group on criteria and indicators for the conservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests, the International Tropical Timber Organization and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests. In 1997, under the auspices of the Montreal Process, Australia produced its First Approximation Report, the first time Australia has attempted to report against criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. Australia has also developed a sub-national framework of indicators based on internationally agreed Montreal Process criteria and indicators. This framework provides a basis for integrated data collection that will enable consistent reporting on sustainability for regional national and international purposes.

As a tool for reporting, Australia is committed to using the Montreal Process criteria and indicator framework for reporting on forest condition and progress towards sustainable forest management. A regional (sub-national) framework of regional indicators of sustainable forest management in Australia was developed over a two-year period and endorsed by Forestry and Environment Ministers in 1998. The framework is based on the internationally agreed Montreal Process criteria and indicators. The framework provides the basis for collection of forest related data and will be used for a variety of purposes including state of forest reporting, state of the environment reporting, and monitoring of RFA outcomes. Regional Forest Agreements last for 20 years, and over the life of the agreements public forest management agencies will report against a subset of the Montreal Process indicators at five-yearly intervals. The Commonwealth Government is currently negotiating with State governments the set of indicators that are to be used for each RFA region. Data on private forests is a significant area that will require improvement for monitoring.

As a tool for policy development, Australia recognises that, over time, the implementation of the regional framework of criteria and indicators will provide information that will be used for policy development. However, it is the suite of criteria and indicators that will be considered, not simply one criterion. This holistic approach is recognised as being one of the strengths of the Montreal Process. Australia is in the early stages of implementation and has identified priority indicators from the regional framework (categorised as A, B and C - See table 1). These indicators cover all seven Montreal Process criteria. Information gathered will play a significant role in the 5-yearly reviews of RFAs. Depending on findings from these reviews, policies may be amended or developed.

As a tool for policy monitoring, as above, Australia considers the data collected against indicators will provide useful information for monitoring the effectiveness of forest policies. It is envisaged that the monitoring results for the Regional Forest Agreement criteria and indicators will be publicly released after each five-yearly review to better inform public debate on forest management issues. 

Table 1: Phased implementation of indicators

Australia has not yet undertaken an analysis on which of the criteria and indicators used in Australia could be useful to assess progress towards sustainable forest management at the international level. However, our domestic process has identified the indicators in Table 1 (Category A, B and C) as being priority indicators. Given that Category B and C indicators are not fully implementable in Australia at present, Category A indicators could provide a basis for use at the international level. However, Australia supports the view that implementation of indicators by countries should be on a voluntary basis.

Australia supports the concept of continuous improvement in implementing indicators and suggests that this approach should be adopted at the international level. Australia has dedicated considerable resources to indicator development and associated scientific research. There will be regular reviews of indicator implementation with a view to improving the quality and variety of indicators. International co-operation could then assist countries in progressing further.

In terms of efficiency and consistency, Australia recognises there is potential in some form of harmonisation of criteria and indicators. At present there seems to be considerable commonality between some of the criteria and indicator process.

Information on sustainable forest management is made available to potential users through a number of avenues notably Australia's State of the Forest Report and Montreal Process First Approximation Report. Australia's framework of regional (sub-national) level criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management in Australia is also publicly available. Stakeholder involvement is also an important component of the forest related activities in Australia, including the RFA process and the work on criteria and indicators. Key activities related to sustainable forest management including the above are available on the Internet at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ? Australia, Forestry, website, (http://www.affa.gov.au/affa/subjects/forestry.html#14) and Regional Forestry Agreement website ( http://www.rfa.gov.au/).

Research and Technologies   

Continued research and development into Australia's forests and forest industries is undertaken by the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, universities, State agencies and private companies.

Australia is considering developing a national forestry standard that could be used as a basis for forest certification in Australia. Any standard developed in Australia will be:

• consistent with the NFPS objectives and ESD principles already adopted by all governments in Australia;
• potentially applicable to all forest areas (RFA and non-RFA; planted and native forest; and publicly or privately owned);
• consistent with outcomes achieved in RFAs;
• compatible with relevant national and international policy instruments; and
• focused on sustainable wood production from forests.

Australia is also interested in exploring an internationally cooperative approach to the voluntary labeling of timber from certified forests, based on national approaches to sustainable forest management.

In 1992 the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy set a 50% target for the reduction of waste going landfill by the year 2000. June 1997 figures showed that paper production as a whole is in line with this general target: about 50% of paper is currently being recycled, but only 25% of available high grade paper is recovered for recycling.

Financing 

The Natural Heritage Trust was established by the Commonwealth Government in 1996. Its goal is to stimulate activities in the national interest to achieve the conservation, sustainable use and repair of Australia's natural environment. The Trust focuses on five key environmental themes ?land, vegetation, rivers, coasts and marine, and biodiversity.

Cooperation  

Australia has continued to promote the development of sustainable forest management in international fora as well as supporting regional initiatives. As part of Australia's contribution to the work of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development's Intergovernmental Panel on Forests and its successor the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, Australia hosted the International Conference on Certification and Labelling of Products from Sustainably Managed Forests in 1996, funded a consultancy to undertake a study on the global outlook for plantations in 1999 and co-ordinated the development of a paper on international forest conservation and protected areas also in 1999.

AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development, uses a variety of channels to support sustainable forest management and conservation, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Assistance is provided through bilateral and regional projects; contributions to multilateral agencies (such as the World Bank; the ADB and ITTO); and Australian NGOs. Australia also supports international forestry research activities through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Aid expenditure in the forest sector has averaged around A$15 million per annum over the past five years. Australia is a major supporter of the World Heritage Convention and already has a number of World Heritage areas containing significant forest, including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Fraser Island, the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Australia), and Kakadu National Park.

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This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5^th, 6^th, and 8th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: December 1999.

Click here for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Click here for the National Forest Policy Statement.

Click here for the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity

Click here for Forest legislation

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FRESHWATER

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

Under Australia's federal system of government, the six States and two Territories have primary responsibility for natural resource management. All of the nation's governments have recognized the need to work together in developing a major national integrated framework for the efficient and sustainable reform of Australia's water industry. Each State/Territory has an agency (departments or statutory authorities) to undertake various activities relating to catchment management, water resource allocation and water harvesting, storage and distribution as well as land management, nature conservation and environment protection. 

At the Federal level, the Department of Primary Industries and Energy (DPIE) and the Department of the Environment (EA) are the main agencies responsible for natural resource and environmental management. Their role is primarily one of policy development, leadership and facilitation.  The activities of the States and Territories in water management are highly significant because they have primary responsibility under constitutional arrangements.

Each State and Territory has established a variety of institutional arrangements, legislation, policies and programs for water and catchment management. To this end States have endorsed a comprehensive reform program for water resource management, under COAG, which is to be fully implemented by the year 2001.  Overall coordination is effected through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), relevant Ministerial Councils, including the Agriculture and Resources Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ), the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MDBC), and the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC), as well as related working groups reporting to these bodies. 

The Murray-Darling Basin is a major region in Australia facing significant resource degradation issues, which are being addressed through integrated approaches. It occupies one-seventh of the nation's landmass and is one of the most important agricultural production areas in Australia. A significant achievement in 1995 was the completion by the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) Commission (which involves the Federal and four State governments) of a comprehensive audit of current and future water use in the Basin. This action marked indicated the dramatic impact on the environment that diversions have had on the river systems.

Policy directions for the management of the Basin are established through the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MDBMC), which comprises 12 Ministers holding portfolios for land, water and environmental issues within the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian and Victorian Governments. MDBC is a unique organization, being equally responsible to each of the governments represented on the Council, but it is not a government department or a statutory body of an individual government. 

The Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council arose from a Forum held in Brisbane in January 1995 and has been supported by the Commonwealth Government of Australia and all jurisdictions directly involved in the Great Artesian Basin, by groundwater users, and by various sectoral groups with an interest in groundwater and associated natural resource management. 

The Commonwealth Government of Australia has established the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) which is the central plank of the Government's commitment to natural resource management and the environment Under the NHT, there is a strong emphasis on community involvement in program planning and implementation. The Natural Heritage Trust Ministerial Board comprises the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy. The Board is the formal mechanism for liaison and cooperation between the Environment and the Primary Industries and Energy portfolios to ensure the integration of programs. Expert advice is provided to the Board through advisory committees such as the National Landcare Advisory Committee, the Biological Diversity Advisory Council, the Council for Sustainable Vegetation Management, and the Natural Heritage Trust Advisory Committee.

The majority of responsibility for water resource management lies primarily with State/Territory and Local governments, with a wide range of planning legislation and requirements existing throughout the country.  

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands entered into force in Australia on 21 December 1973.  
Relevant legislation includes: 

• Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Victoria); 

• Water Act 1988);

• Water Resources Act 1989 (Queensland);

• Fisheries Act 1994;

• Environmental Protection Act 1994, Forestry Act 1959;

•  Integrated Planning Act 1997 (forthcoming), River Improvement Trust Act 1940; 

• Water Act 1912 part 2) (NSW);

• Water Resources Act 1997 (SA);

• Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (WA);

• Water Act 1957 (TAS); and

• Water Act 1992 (NT). 

Water resources legislation is currently being developed for ACT as well.  State legislation for protection of waters includes the Environmental Protection Act (1994) and subordinate legislation, and the State Environmental Protection (Water) Policy (1997). Both are administered by the Queensland Department of Environment. Each contains provisions for management of both point and diffuse sources of pollution to waters. Point source discharges are managed through environmental licensing. Diffuse source pollution will be managed through a range of industry policies being developed under the auspices of the EPP Water. The State also has an Integrated Catchment management Program (administered by the Department of Natural Resources) which in the longer term will result in the development of catchment management plans throughout the State.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

Strategies

The National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (NSESD) identifies the need to develop and manage, in an integrated fashion, the quality and quantity of surface- and groundwater resources, and to develop mechanisms for water resource management aimed at maintaining ecological systems while meeting economic, social and community needs. Specific objectives are (1) to develop water management policies which are based on an integrated approach to the development and management of water and (2) to develop and implement the most effective mix of water resource management mechanisms (including pricing, regulation, monitoring, institutional arrangements and property rights).

In addition, Australia has developed a number of strategies that address specific aspects of freshwater management. These include the following:

1.             The Natural Resource Management Strategy (NRMS) provides an integrated catchment approach to the problems of river basins. Its goal is to promote and coordinate effective planning and management for the equitable efficient and sustainable use of the natural resources of the basins. Major program areas under the NRMS include: Irrigation Salinity and Drainage, Dryland Salinity, Wetlands, Blue Green Algae, Native fish and Irrigation.

2.             Water quality is being addressed through the National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS). The NWQMS adopts a consistent approach to the whole of the water cycle, while allowing flexibility to respond to differing regional and local circumstances. A key element of the process is community consultation. The strategy sets out a national framework within which States and Territories will develop appropriate action plans for the waters in their region. Under the NQWMS guidelines, industry-specific water resources guidelines are being developed.

3.             The Commonwealth Government of Australia initiated a cleaner production program in 1993, and in November 1996, the ANZECC agreed to develop a National Strategy for Cleaner Production. The key objective of the Strategy is to establish a framework that provides industry with the incentive, the information and the capacity to improve its environmental performance in design, production and delivery of goods and services to the community.

4.             A National Strategic Framework for Water Reform, which was agreed by all governments through the Council of Australian Governments in February 1994, establishes a structured program of reform measures to achieve more efficient and sustainable water resource use. State and Territory Governments have prime responsibility for water resource management and implementation of the reforms. The Federal Government, and particularly the Department of Primary Industries and Energy (DPIE) and the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories (DEST), have complementary roles in the reform process in providing leadership and facilitating implementation, in the interest of promoting national outcomes.

5.             The principal objective of the National Disaster Mitigation Strategy is to facilitate and support the development and implementation of disaster mitigation by all Australians, by all sectors, community groups, associations and individuals. The premise of disaster mitigation is that, while some hazardous events may be unavoidable, their impacts can be reduced and in some cases prevented altogether. The key lies with prepared communities, which are aware of the risks they face and take action to reduce risks by investing in a systematic program of disaster mitigation.

Policies and Reforms

1.           The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) framework provides the water resource pricing policy for Australia. The COAG framework is aimed at developing water prices which not only cover business or operating costs, but also provide for infrastructure refurbishment or replacement, thereby ensuring that the water industry is able to maintain or improve system delivery efficiency.

A focus on appropriate water pricing is, however, not only about meeting future infrastructure needs. It is also about achieving greater efficiency in the industry. Australia's experience has been that this can occur at the individual user level, as well as at the broader irrigation district level. Progress in achieving efficiencies in water use can also be complemented by improvements in the way water is managed and delivered through the COAG framework measures, which address institutional or organizational reform. 

2.           The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Water Reform Framework has been established for the efficient and sustainable reform of the Australian water industry, to be fully implemented by the year 2001. Major elements of this framework include the following: (1) water pricing based on consumption-based pricing and full cost recovery; (2) the reduction or elimination of cross-subsidies; (3) clarification of property rights; (4) allocation of water for the environment; (5) adoption of trading arrangements for water; (6) institutional reform; and (7) public consultation and participation. 

Since around 70% of Australia's harvested water resources are used for irrigated agriculture, the changes flowing from the framework will be far-reaching in their implications for rural areas. A transitional period of five to eight years has been adopted to implement the reform agenda.

In recognition of the significance and complexity of the issues covered by the Water Reform Framework, the Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) established an inter-governmental Task Force on COAG Water Reform to ensure that, where possible, a consistent and coordinated approach is maintained and that the full benefits of the reform process are achieved. Membership of the task force includes senior water policy representatives from all States and Territories. Other stakeholders include the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), the National Competition Council, The Murray Darling Basin Council, the Water Services Association of Australia and the Australian Local Government Association.

COAG reforms are resulting in restructured water tariffs and reduced or eliminated cross subsidies for metropolitan, non-metropolitan urban, and rural water authorities. The reform measures, to be implemented over the period to 2001, cover both rural and urban areas and include measures in relation to water pricing, water entitlements and trading, environmental requirements, institutional reform, public consultation and education, and research. Good progress has been made in implementing the reforms in the short time since they were agreed. 

3.           Water property rights are being addressed under a framework of national principles. All governments have in place, or are planning, measures to promote integrated catchment management approaches. Governments have undertaken activities to promote water trading and initiated action to progress interstate water trading. The COAG framework requires separation of water access rights from land title and clear specification of entitlements in terms of ownership, volume, reliability, transferability, and (if appropriate) quality. Recognition is given to the environment as a legitimate user of water in its own right by giving it its own allocation. Clear water access entitlements are a pre-requisite for efficient and effective trading systems. There is a requirement to ensure that water trading occurs within the social, physical and ecological constraints of individual catchments. 

4.           On 2 February 1997, the Commonwealth Government of Australia adopted and launched The Wetlands Policy of the Commonwealth Government of Australia to "conserve, repair and manage wetlands wisely". The definition of wetlands includes a broad range of water types, including fresh, salt and brackish water. In recognition of the special role of wetlands the Policy aims to provide those responsible for the administration of Commonwealth activities on wetland sites with guidelines and processes to ensure the wetlands are managed within the principles of ecologically sustainable development (which equates with the Ramsar Convention's "Wise Use" philosophy). 

5.           The Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments agreed to a National Drought Policy (NDP) in 1992. The NDP provides a framework for all levels of government to prepare measures designed to encourage self -reliance, ensure good natural resource management and provide adequate community welfare in the farm sector. A Task Force comprising Commonwealth and State/Territory Government representative was established in late 1995 to review the NDP following the serious impact of drought in 1994 and 1995 on rural businesses, families and communities.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

The regulatory roles traditionally performed by water businesses have either been abolished or are being transferred to an appropriate regulatory body. Economic regulators are being set up to oversee the performance of the industry, to protect customer interests and to regulate water prices.

Partnership Agreements are currently being signed between the Commonwealth Government of Australia and all State and Territory governments to ensure that policies and guidelines for environmental protection and sustainable development are consistent with national standards and priorities. It is expected that regional partnerships will be formed between the Commonwealth, State/Territory and local governments, industry, landcare, conservation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and other community groups, including research and educational institutions, and individual landholders where appropriate. These partnerships of key stakeholders will be best placed to identify issues of concern within a region, and to establish a plan of action that will effect long-term changes for the better management of biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture.

Catchment management committees, led by community representatives, coordinate natural resource management activities in each of the 19 management sub-regions in the Basin. To date, approximately 50 Action Plans have been or are being developed in locations where problems are particularly severe and need to be addressed urgently. Government support, if required, is tailored to the needs of the particular region.

Programmes and Projects 

1.             The National Landcare Program supports activities, which contribute to the sustainable management of land, water and vegetation resources in line with regional, State and national strategies. Emphasis is placed on providing assistance to communities to overcome the impediments to achieving sustainable management. State agencies, Local Government, community groups and industry are encouraged to work cooperatively towards the achievement of strategic goals.

2.             Western Australia has recently announced the Salinity Action Plan, a key strategy for reversing the loss of agricultural land to salinity and protecting and restoring key water resources and high value wetlands. The integration and coordination arrangements that are set out in the Plan provide an example of the State's model for delivery of natural resource management.

3.             The National River Health Program (NRHP) addresses research into the environmental flow requirements of Australia's rivers, including the development of decision support systems. The Program is also developing the first national biological monitoring system for Australia's rivers, for the assessment of river health and related management action and State of the Environment reporting. 

4.             The National Wetlands Program aims to promote the conservation of Australia's wetlands through a variety of actions such as management planning for wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention, management-oriented research, surveys, training programs and awareness raising. The program has assisted State and Territory Government with management planning for 32 of Australia's 49 Ramsar listed wetlands. In March 1996 Australia hosted the 6th Conference of Contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention, representing the first time the Conference of the Parties had been held in the Southern Hemisphere. 

5.             The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council introduced an interim cap on diversions and agreed that a better balance needed to be struck between consumptive and environmental uses of water in the Basin. In addition to the audit and cap process, which will provide the broad macro settings, a Sustainability Plan for the Basin will address land and water management issues at a more detailed level. This plan is also complemented by a set of integrated plans, policies and programs.

Status   

The Australian water industry is in an era of fundamental and rapid reform. Competitive pressures are increasing and the industry is now becoming part of the international market for water services. Structural reforms are clarifying accountabilities by separating the policy, regulatory and commercial (operational) functions. This is providing the water business with clear commercial goals of customer service, environmental compliance and sound business operation, free of other conflicting objectives. 

In relation to water quality, the major constraints include reaching agreement among all stakeholders on plans of action and their costs; insufficient detailed scientific understanding of the environmental requirements for water flows (including amount, frequency and intensity of flow, etc); and the long history of regarding water as a free resource. The development of water and pollution markets alone will not be the total solution for improving water quality; other critical measures include better coordinated and targeted monitoring, research and reporting programs, and implementation mechanisms for setting, reporting against and ensuring that environmental quality objectives are maintained.

In urban areas, COAG reforms are resulting in restructured water tariffs and reduced or eliminated cross-subsidies for metropolitan and town water services. The impact on domestic consumers of water services are largely being offset by cost reductions achieved by more efficient, customer-driven, service provision. However, significant water savings have also been realized through reduced demand and have resulted in the postponement of plans to develop additional storage facilities. Water supply per property across Australia in major urban areas has fallen by 19 percent in the last six years - a saving sufficient to supply the urban centers of Adelaide and Perth. The populations of these urban centers are 1.0 and 1.2 million respectively. For urban water services in New South Wales and the ACT a two-part tariff system is in place, and positive rates of return have also been achieved for these services. For future investment, economic appraisal and ecological viability assessment policies are in place. 

Current programs for managing the Murray Darling Basin make it the largest integrated catchment management program in the world, covering more than a million square kilometres. The Basin covers most of inland South-Eastern Australia (8 million km2), and it is home to approximately 1.8 million people. Agriculture in the Basin produces more than 40% of the national total worth $8.5 billion, manufacturing in the basin worth $10.75 billion (70% dependent on agriculture), mining worth $1.66 billion and tourism worth $3.44 billion. The Basin contains a wide variety of landscapes and environments ranging from the Australian Alps to the semi deserts west of the Darling River. It contains 30,000 wetlands, including eight recognized under the Ramsar Convention as wetlands of "international importance." There are estimated to be in the order of 2,000 vascular plant species, 85 mammal species, 367 bird species, 151 reptile species, 24 frog species, and 20 fish species at the time of the European settlement. While some extinction has occurred and other species have been threatened, the biodiversity of the basin makes it one of Australia's most important.

The Murray Darling Basin Community Advisory Committee (CAC) has been set up to act as a sounding board for the MDBMC. It comprises 21 community representatives drawn from the four States in the Basin, as well as representatives from the National Farmers Federation, Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Local government Association and the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

A water capping program is in place in the Murray Darling Basin and a bore capping program for Artesian waters. Research is also being undertaken to improve Australia's knowledge and understanding of environmental water requirements and develop a decision support system, which will assist in making better decisions about allocations of water for the environment.

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising 

Australia's community based policies and programs are aimed at developing a capacity for improved resource management at the local level. By encouraging community participation in monitoring water quality, the Waterwatch Australia Program aims to raise community awareness of the natural environment, the wise use of natural resources ethic in communities, and encourage on-ground community based activities and networking. Around 32 000 Australians in 1150 groups across 86 catchments are participating in this program.

Information 

Major Commonwealth Government of Australia information gathering programs include the Commonwealth Monitoring River Health Initiative and State of Environment reporting.  The National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) has established guidelines for fresh and marine waters, including a list of a range of environmental values of water resources and the scientific basis or criteria for local water quality goals. The guidelines are contained in a suite of documents which address specific industries.

An audit and national water resources assessment is being undertaken to help ensure that the necessary information is available for informed decision-making about water resource use, including proposals for major new infrastructure works. It will also provide a sound information base to help achieve the right balance in situations where there are competing demands for water resources, as well as providing a basis against which we can assess progress in achieving sustainable resource use.

The Audit will address the need for a nationwide appraisal of the state of Australia's natural resources base and will contribute to state of the environment reporting at national and state levels. It will provide an objective assessment of the extent of degradation arising from approximately 20 key land and water and vegetation problems and an economic analysis of each problem. The Audit will also develop a coherent and integrated national database that will enable changes in the status of Australia's land and water resources to be evaluated periodically through State of the Environment reporting.

State Governments also operate public engagement programs to prevent pollution of freshwater supplies. For example, the Queensland Government's WaterWise aims to raise the profile of water related issues, promote benefits of water use efficiency and increase awareness of implications of inefficient water use. 

Water Services Association of Australia was formed in 1995 to provide a forum for debate on issues of importance to the urban water industry and to provide a focal point for communicating the industry's views to the public. WSAA also provides a national focus for the provision of information on the urban water industry for all interested parties. WSAAfacts publishes information for the Australian water industry and outlines industry milestones.  Australian Water and Wastewater Association (AWWA) is an independent national association of individuals and organizations interested in all aspects of the water industry. As the leading water industry association in Australia, AWWA attempts to form the debate and improve the performance of all players. AWWA's mission is to promote responsible management and conservation of water and related environment. AWWA provides a web site that brings together the broad range of information. 

Australia, through Environment Australia, produces the publication "A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia" every three years. The Directory is a regularly updated data set of wetland complexes across the country which have satisfied criteria for being considered "nationally important" wetlands. Each chapter is written by the individual State or Territory Governments and contains information on individual wetlands including; general description, significance, uses and potential impacts. The data set contains some information on agricultural and industrial issues. 

Waterwatch Australia in conjunction with Waterwatch Victoria has developed a Waterwatch Data Entry Program, which allows the participants to enter Waterwatch data and store it as a record or file and the Waterwatch Database Program which allows participants to perform simple analysis on the Waterwatch data that has been collected from the catchment. It also allows the operator to develop graphs and produce short reports about the data.

Data on water quality and aquatic biodiversity are collected by community groups at about 4000 sites across Australia. The Waterwatch data is collected to assist the community to assess the health of their own waterways and catchments. The information collected may be relevant to local industries, households or agricultural organizations. Most of the information collected by Waterwatch Australia is for use by people in the catchment involved and as such is usually distributed only in that catchment by the individual groups or the Waterwatch regional coordinator.

Research and Technologies   

The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) is the peak body of the Australian urban water industry. Its members provide water and wastewater services to approximately 12 million Australians and many of Australia's largest industrial and commercial enterprises. Established in 1995, it serves as a forum for debate on issues of importance to the urban water industry and a focal point for communicating the industry's views to the public. WSAA also provides a national focus for the provision of information on the urban water industry for all interested parties. WSAA publishes information for the Australian water industry and outlines industry milestones.

Competition for input to the water industry is now well developed, with major outsourcing and treatment plants as well as "Build, Own, Operate and Transfer" contracts already in operation. Access regimes that allow third party access to the industry's infrastructure are under active discussion. Operating licenses specifying customer service, environmental and commercial performance targets and corresponding reward/penalty mechanisms are being introduced.

Australia has the capacity to treat wastewater. It has been estimated that the capacity to do so as in 1994 was 1520 x 106 cubic meters. Total re-use nationally is expected to increase from 18 GL in 1994 to 64 GL by the year 2020.

Sewerage treatment is a State responsibility. Eighty-five percent of urban sewage is treated, and this percentage is likely to increase over the next couple of years as sewerage and wastewater treatment infrastructure is improved.

Technological needs for the wastewater treatment include cost-efficient nutrient stripping, enhanced rapid viral pathogen detection, disinfection, and, in the long term, replacement of chlorine-based water purification and treatment to achieve sustainable use of sludge. For water purification, detection and removal of parasites, disinfection of by-products and other human-made contaminants and cost efficient treatment of reclaimed water that will provide complete reliability for potable reuse are all needed.

Research and data collection related to water management is undertaken through a variety of mechanisms. These include the National Land and Water Resources Audit, the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation, the Division of Land and Water in the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO's), the Australian Geological Survey Organization, the Bureau of Resource Sciences, a number of Cooperative Research Centers and various State Government natural resource management agencies.

CSIRO's efforts in this area encompass a broad range of approaches to managing Australia's land and water resources, including knowledge of the processes, practices and skills needed to maintain these resources. CSIRO is concerned with catchment processes, water and soil resources, and their management. It is also concerned with the contamination of land and water, and the means whereby restoration and remediation is achieved, as well as the beneficial use of wastes and integrated approaches to resource use. Teams are able, both national and internationally, to provide a range of skills that can be applied across many integrated research fields. CSIRO seeks to provide leadership in key research areas and to work with society to jointly utilise, develop, monitor, or repair our land and water for mutual benefit. Research is organized in the following broad areas: Catchment management, assessment and monitoring, sediment, nutrient and pollutant transport in catchments, surface water management, Groundwater management, land resource inventory and evaluation, land degradation processes, management and restoration, Land and water contamination, Remediation, Waste utilisation, integrated resource use and society.

The CSIRO is a partner in the Cooperative Research Centre(CRC) for Catchment Hydrology which exists to advance the understanding of catchment hydrology and, through application of this knowledge, to improve the management of Australia's land and water resources. Its research programs focus on: tracking water and salt in catchments to address salinity problems; prediction of water yield in forest catchments, particularly those subject to timber harvesting; waterway management, and control of sediments and nutrients entering streams; urban waterway management, including control of pollutants; and flood estimation and forecasting. The Centre parties include research organizations, and land and water agencies responsible for resource management. The links between researchers and industry are used to identify and research major land and water issues and to speed the transfer of technology into practice. In its education program, the Centre aims to increase the catchment hydrology skills of industry personnel, and to train and equip postgraduate students as future leaders in water resources management in Australia.

The CRC for Freshwater Ecology exists to provide the ecological basis for the sustainable management of Australian temperate region surface water. It has six research program areas: (i) flowing waters, is establishing an understanding of the major processes and organisms involved in the ecology of our rivers and streams;(ii) standing waters and eutrophication, is seeking to improve the quality of stored water and looks at the dynamics of dams and weirs as well as how nutrients, light, river flow and other factors interact to trigger algal blooms, particularly in water storages; (iii) floodplain and wetland ecology, healthy rivers depend on interaction with their floodplains, via flooding; (iv) water quality and ecological assessment, developing cost-effective and improved methods for assessing river health; (v) urban water management, an understanding of urban stormwater pollutant mobilisation, transport and receiving water processes is required for the sustainable development and management of urban areas; and (vi) fish ecology, relates to understanding the recruitment processes in native fish populations, the streamflow needed to sustain fish communities and habitats in regulated rivers, fish migration and techniques for providing fish passage at barriers, threatened species, fish as monitoring tools and the ecological effects of alien species such as carp in freshwater.

The objectives of the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment are to improve public health associated with water supply through the conduct of strategic and applied research, to develop an understanding of the factors which affect water quality, to develop strategies which will provide improved water quality at minimum cost and to provide a platform for this technology to benefit Australia and the Australian water industry. The research program has four components which link human health risk assessment with key water quality, water management and treatment technology issues, including catchment and source water management, natural organic material, control of infectious micro-organisms, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), management of streams and storages, removal of natural organics from water, activated carbon, alternative approaches to disinfection and maintaining water quality through distribution systems. A strong, integrated education and training program is an important feature of the Centre's core activity. The program involves a range of undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, short courses, seminars and conferences as well as the production of resource material for public education purposes.

The 1996 SoE report addressed issues relating to water quality, water use and environmental flows in a chapter based on Australian research. Over the next four years the National Land and Water Resources Audit will contribute significantly to providing scientifically based information about water issues to decision-makers. The Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation focuses its funding of research on projects that have long-term productive capacity, sustainable use, management and conservation of Australia's land, water and vegetation resources. 

The Australian Geological Survey Organization (AGSO) provides research and technical services to support the sustainable management of water resources. AGSO has developed a multidisciplinary approach to providing regional frameworks for key groups managing natural resources. This approach includes the traditional fields of the earth sciences-geology, geophysics, geochemistry and hydrogeology together with the modern technologies of geographic information systems and spatial data analysis, image processing and relational database management systems. AGSO's expertise in the science of water resource management falls into three broadly interlinked areas: groundwater resources; groundwater quality; and land management.

AGSO groundwater assessment and management programs involve developing and collecting baseline information; defining linkages and relationships between the resource and its environment; and strengthening the capabilities of resource-management institutions. Within Australia, AGSO has provided strategic groundwater advice to key management groups involved with the Murray-Darling Basin, the Great Artesian Basin and groundwater resources underlying Aboriginal lands in central and northern Australia, as well as more general information about national and regional groundwater issues. Techniques used during these investigations involve: hydrogeological data collection, hydrogeological mapping and database developmen, regional groundwater modelling, and hydrogeochemical studies and isotope hydrology studies.

The objectives of AGSO's groundwater-quality activities are to: establish baseline conditions in key groundwater resource areas; monitor these areas for subsequent trends in quality indicators; identify and understand the processes - both natural and the result of human activity - impacting on groundwater quality in these areas and based on the above, provide scientific advice to natural resource managers. AGSO routinely undertakes quality assessment of groundwater resources underlying key irrigated agricultural regions and, more recently, aquifers subject to the impact of encroaching rural and urban development. Contaminants routinely screened for include: microbes of public health significance; fertilisers, such as nitrate; heavy metals; toxic organic pollutants, such as pesticides. To further assist groundwater resource managers, AGSO carries out experimental investigations to determine, for example: if natural biogeochemical processes can remediate contaminated groundwaters; if borehole corrosion rates can be predicted, as an aid to borehole rehabilitation; if faecal indicator bacteria can be used to identify sources of contamination.

AGSO has been involved in various aspects of the reform of Australia's water industries, especially integrated resource management, where, for instance, irrigation development conflicts with broader catchment-based equity of resource use and environmental concerns. Australia is at the forefront of moves to achieve a catchment-based approach to natural resources management to improve outcomes for sustainable resource use through effective cooperation between governments and the community. AGSO's role, which has been complemented by other policy-related programs, has been to provide technical information and monitoring systems to help decision-making.

The Bureau of Resource Sciences (BRS) also conducts a number of water management research projects, including into the impacts of farm dam development on stream flows and the institutional impediments to environmental flow management. BRS currently has an investigation into the 'Biophysical agricultural production and socio-economic futures in irrigation regions, a 20 year profile'. The project objective is to develop a decision support system framework for identifying the likely impact of policy and program options at regional and basin levels on the resource base, agricultural productivity and socio-economic structure of irrigation regions of the Southern Murray-Darling Basin over the next 20 years. A prototype decision support system framework and hydrological and salt balance models have been developed to date. BRS' 'Future uses for Australia's water' project is to further develop the irrigation futures framework to incorporate water management allocation, nutrient flows, environmental flows, run-off and stream flow, and the cost of off-site salinity impacts.

Financing 

The Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 established a Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Reserve, and allows the Trust to earn interest, and for Consolidated Revenue funds to be paid into the Trust. $1.249 billion will be spent over 5 years. In addition to this, $300 million will be kept in perpetuity as a capital base for future environmental expenditure. The Act ensures accountability through financial and annual reporting and outlines the capital projects of the Trust, which will deal directly with the preservation of Australia's natural assets.

The Commonwealth Government of Australia is conducting a comprehensive appraisal of the extent of land and water degradation in Australia and its environment, social and economic costs. Under the Natural Heritage Trust , the Government is establishing a National Land and Water Audit at a cost of $37 million to the year 2001-02.  The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)'s Division of Land and Water has a staff of 480 to undertake integrated research in this area. The CSIRO Land and Water Sector spends some $32m on land and water research annually.

Water supply is an important element of Australia's official development assistance (ODA) because of its contribution to poverty reduction. Australia's aid expenditure on water supply and sanitation activities has increased dramatically over the last 5 years from $10.2 million in 1990-1 to $76.1 million in 1995-6. In 1997-98 Aus AID expenditure on the water sector is estimated at $40 million or 3% of ODA. Most projects are located in the Asia-Pacific region. AusAID activities in this sector have increasingly incorporated environmental concerns (such as improved catchment management) as well as the involvement of local communities in their design, construction and maintenance.

Considerable support is provided by a range of Federal and State/Territory programs aimed at improving water resource management. The Federal Government is committed to funding a $1.25 billion package of natural resource management measures. The main elements that address water management are a National Land and Water Audit ($32m), the Murray-Darling 2001 project ($150m) and a National Rivercare Program ($85m).

Cooperation

Australia is a participant in the multilateral track of the Middle East peace process, and is a member of the multilateral Water Resources Working Group (WRWG). The WRWG was established to assist in joint water resource management by the Palestine Territories, Jordan and Israel, and Australia is committed to providing tangible support to the peace process through WRWG activities. In the 1997/98 financial year AusAID is providing assistance of around AUD50 000 for a workshop organized by the Executive Action Team of the WRWG, to be held over 14-18 December in Tiberius, Israel. These funds will go towards partly covering the costs of hosting the workshop, and the attendance of two Australian consultants who will primarily contribute expertise on ground water modeling and data base formation.

The Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand have prepared a policy position paper for advice to states and territories, entitled Allocation and Use of Groundwater - A National Framework for Improved Groundwater Management in Australia. This paper offers advice to jurisdictions on further opportunities for reform in groundwater management, consistent with the principles agreed in the Water Reform Framework and the Competition Policy. The paper also establishes inter-governmental agreement or guidance on some implementation issues relating to groundwater. 

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th and 6th Sessions of the United Nations Commissions on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 June 1998

Click here for COAG Water Policy.

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LAND MANAGEMENT

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

Responsibility for natural resource planning and management rests primarily with the six State, two Territory and local governments. State and Territory Departments' of Agriculture, Resource Management and Environment Protection administer regulations for the management and protection of natural resources and the environment and are the major suppliers of 'on the ground' applied information and advice for land owners and land managers, both directly via extension programs or indirectly via landcare groups.

At the Commonwealth Government level, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia (AFFA) and the Department of the Environment and Heritage are the main agencies responsible for environment and natural resource management. The role of the Commonwealth Government is to provide national leadership to address natural resource management and environmental concerns that are of national rather than State or local significance. Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the Commonwealth Government will control actions which would impact on specified matters of national environmental significance. The Commonwealth encourages the States, Territories, local governments and communities to develop uniform approaches and policies and provides short term support that is designed to act as a catalyst for long term actions by other governments and communities. Local governments play a key role within legislative frameworks set by the States, as they have responsibility for many of the planning and management decisions at the local level. Local governments operate within legislative frameworks set by the States and Territories.

States/Territories and local governments have a variety of coordination mechanisms. For example, an important innovation is the development of catchment management arrangements to span a number of local government areas, such as Victoria's Catchment Management Authorities ( http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/catchmnt/partner/cma/index.htm).

At the State, Territory and Commonwealth government levels there have been a number of structural changes that have resulted in the integration of planning and management of land resources by amalgamating separate Ministerial Councils concerned with soil conservation, water resources and agriculture into one Council -- the Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ). Other Ministerial Councils that provide policy co-ordination between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories include the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), the Ministerial Council for Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture (MCFFA) and the Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council (ANZMEC). The Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) and Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MDBMC) provide co-ordinated natural resource management in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia's largest river system and the site of important segments of Australia's population and industry. Co-ordination is also promoted through intergovernmental committees of officials supporting the Ministerial Councils.

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

State and Territory governments have planning schemes that aim to balance the full range of economic, environment and social factors as well as having requirements to conduct environment impact assessments for significant development applications. Within this framework local governments also have development control and planning powers. The Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 will protect impacts on places of national environmental significance including Ramsar sites and habitats of threatened species.

The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (NPWC) Act provides the statutory basis for regulating use and access to Commonwealth national parks and reserves. The Act also provides the basis for introducing fees and other cost-recovery mechanisms for park or reserve entry, permit assessment and issue, fines and other measures. These are applied as required and provide a contribution to park or reserve revenue and as a means of regulating access to parks or reserves where they are applied. National parks and reserves are managed to conserve their natural values such as biodiversity, and therefore the transformation of a land type or habitat into another land type or habitat is not generally an issue. The only exception may be where rehabilitation is required to restore an area to its natural state. National Parks and Reserves declared under the NPWC Act are vested in the Director of National Parks and Wildlife. Where an area has been handed over to traditional owners (Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Booderee National Parks) then agreements have been established under which the areas are leased back to the Director to be managed.

The management of most of Australia's national parks and conservation reserves is governed by State and Territory legislation. Conservation of biodiversity on public land at the Commonwealth level is achieved through national policies for the management of wildlife and of national parks and reserves, under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 (NPWC Act). This Act will be superceded by the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, effective from July 2000. Conservation and management of fresh water resources is achieved with national parks and reserves declared under the NPWC Act as part of overall management of those parks and reserves in recognition of the part in which water plays in broader ecological management approaches. Protection of fragile mountain ecosystems is achieved through Parks Australia involvement in implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Australian Alps National Parks (which involves national parks and reserves in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT). Parks Australia provides financial support to the MOU and supports the Australian Alps Liaison Committee.

Any proposal to establish or expand human settlements within a national park or reserve declared under the NPWC Act would be considered under the Regulations to the Act and plan of management in place for that particular park or reserve. The potential impacts of such establishment or expansion on the natural values and the management objectives for that park or reserve would be taken into account.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

The National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (NSESD) provides the policy framework for the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to promote the ecologically sustainable management of Australia's environment and natural resources. The NSESD (in place since 1992) commits Australian governments to ensure that land use decision making processes and land use allocations meet the overall goal of ecologically sustainable development and are based on a consideration of all land values, uses and flow on effects. Under the NSESD governments are working to:

• clarify and publicise policies and legislation for land access (including the conservation and heritage estate);
• promote multiple and sequential land and marine area use, while recognising that there are areas of exceptional environmental or cultural value that are not compatible with economic development;
• develop co-operative and consultative arrangements between jurisdictions; and
• continue efforts to improve understanding of Australia's natural resource base and work towards land use planning and decision making processes which take these values into account.

In relation to the management of land for mining, in February 1998 the Commonwealth Government announced a Resources Policy Statement that re-affirmed that Commonwealth decision-making processes would integrate considerations of all values, including economic, environmental and social issues. In maintaining a competitive environment the Statement committed the Commonwealth to promoting efficiency in the use of land, labour and capital. The Statement, in accordance with the NSESD, supports multiple and sequential land and marine area use while recognising that there are some areas of exceptional environmental or cultural value that are not compatible with development.

Within the framework of the NSESD a number of strategies and plans provide a focus for particular resource issues, including the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, the revised National Overview for the Decade of Landcare Plan (the main strategic plan for the National Landcare Program), the National Water Quality Management Strategy, the Council of Australian Government (COAG) Water Reform Framework and the National Weeds Strategy. In April 1999 all Australian governments agreed to national principles and guidelines for rangelands management. Additional strategies and plans are being developed from 1999 between the three levels of Australian governments and regional and community interest groups. These include a National Framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia's Native Vegetation being developed by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), a National Dryland Salinity Program, a Salinity Management Strategy for the Murray-Darling Basin, and a rehabilitation strategy for the Great Artesian Basin groundwater resource. A National Land and Water Resources Audit is underway to provide benchmark information for these and other initiatives.

The complex nature of the causes of sustainability problems within Australia and the range of participants requires a mix of instruments to provide effective solutions.

Therefore, as part of the NSESD Australian governments are undertaking a range of measures to address sustainability issues. These include:

• developing partnerships with State, Territory and local governments and community groups that co-ordinate policies and activities to more effectively address resource degradation concerns that are nationally significant. These include agreements such as Regional Forestry Agreements for the management of specific types of resources, and strategic management plans developed for specific regions. Programs such as the National Dryland Salinity Program address specific degradation concerns that are a high priority;
• implementing measures which better define property rights and facilitate their use to encourage more sustainable and efficient use of resources;
• promoting, through the ANZECC framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia's Native Vegetation, mechanisms to manage and protect native vegetation including enhanced incentives, an improved information base (through the National Vegetation Information System) improved regional planning frameworks, and more effective institutional arrangements;
• providing financial assistance to assist State and Territories with controls and incentives to reduce the rate of land clearing in Australia, to limit clearing to areas where regional biodiversity is not compromised and to stop further clearing of endangered ecological communities;
• promoting and financially supporting better native vegetation management and retention through the Natural Heritage Trust (in particular the Bushcare program) and associated partnership agreements;
• supporting research and enhanced access to information by landholders and community groups;
• introducing regulatory approaches, such as restrictions on land clearing and capping water allocations in the Murray-Darling Basin;
• creating market based mechanisms to encourage sustainable and economically viable natural resource management;
• establishing co-operative intergovernmental mechanisms such as the Murray-Darling Basin Commission;
• conducting comprehensive environmental impact assessments by Commonwealth and State agencies of proposals such as for mining developments in environmentally significant areas that ensure that possible impacts on biodiversity, water resources and fragile ecosystems are taken into account;
• in accordance with the COAG water reform framework, providing environmental allocations necessary to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services; and
• supporting traditional owners in sustainable land use methods in national parks.

In view of the wide ranging economic and ecological dimensions of the water industry the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed that action was required to address the unsustainable use of water and accompanying widespread natural resource and environmental degradation. COAG agreed on a series of measures to reform Australia's water industry and to address the economic, environmental and social implications of reform. The fundamental principle underlying the COAG framework is that water use should be both economically viable and ecologically sustainable. The provision of either direct or indirect subsidies, for example to meet community service obligations, should be transparent. The major elements of the reform strategy include pricing based on full cost recovery, determination of water allocations and entitlements and trading for those entitlements, institutional reforms, and the provision of water for the environment. The implementation of this package by State and Territory governments is critical for both the long-term viability and sustainability of rural industries and the quality of Australia's rural environment and natural resources. The implementation of these reforms also recognises that if land and water problems are not effectively managed then both economic growth and the state of the environment are jeopardised.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

Private landholders play a key role in decision making as most agricultural land is privately owned or managed under leasehold arrangements. Indigenous peoples also are substantial land managers and occupy about 18.4 per cent of Australia's extensive rangelands area. The primary role of Governments is to establish the broad framework for decision making through economic, social and environmental policies, standards and laws and through tenure systems.

Formal structures at all levels of government provide community groups and non-government organisations with opportunities to participate in policy development and program implementation. Catchment Management Committees have been established under State government legislation and the Commonwealth Government has established the Australian Landcare Council. The Commonwealth, States and Territories have also established Regional and State Assessment Panels to advise on the selection and evaluation of projects funded from Natural Heritage Trust programs. A Community Advisory Committee provides the Murray-Darling Basin Commission with advice from community and non-government organisations.

Community Landcare is an essential instrument for ensuring practical, relevant decision-making for natural resource management in rural Australia. By involving community members who naturally link the social, economic and environmental aspects of their lives and who have the greatest vested interest in change, an integrated and sustainable approach to natural resources management and rural development is being achieved. Some 4500 community groups are now involved in voluntary activities promoting sustainable land management and use, many of which are supported by the National Landcare Program and other programs supported by the Natural Heritage Trust. Landcare groups are becoming the most important source of information on local land management issues for members. About 30 per cent of farmers are now members of local landcare groups. Their activities are enhanced by the operations of local governments who are increasingly implementing local strategies for sustainable land use.

Community landcare is supported by the Natural Heritage Trust and the administrative arrangements for the Trust are designed to allow community groups to access ten of the Trust supported programs through a single application and assessment process. Projects for funding are selected on the basis of a single application form, then managed through a single payment schedule and an integrated process for monitoring, reporting and evaluation. This simplifies the process for applicants and ensures that projects can be developed that draw on a number of programs that address a range of issues and activities. The administrative process therefore both encourages community group involvement and the integration and co-ordination of environment and conservation programs.

This is in addition to the continuing major role played by the State Departments of Agriculture, Resource Management and Environmental Protection. These organisations are the major suppliers of 'on the ground' applied information and advice either directly via extension programs or indirectly via landcare groups.

The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 provides for public involvement in the development of plans of management for parks and reserves in both the establishment and management phases. There is statutory provision for submissions from communities, industry groups, indigenous people, non government organisations and others on the plans of management, to be considered in both the development of plans and by both the Director and the Minister when approving plans. The Act also provides for the establishment of Boards of management for national parks and reserves. These are currently established for Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Booderee National Parks. The Boards provide a significant opportunity for traditional owners to be actively involved in joint management of the area and to have active involvement in decision-making on land-use.

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments have enacted legislation that provides land rights for indigenous Australians. Commonwealth legislation is the Native Title Act 1993. Indigenous Australians possess a range of land titles. These fall into a number of categories including general titles, specific statutory titles, and specific common law titles. The general titles include purchased freehold and leasehold titles (for example, land purchased by the Indigenous Land Corporation). The specific statutory titles include: inalienable freehold (Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth), Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 (SA)), statutory trusts (Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (WA)), deeds of grant in trust (Land Act 1962-1988 (Qld), Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld)), Aboriginal Reserves, and excisions and community living area (Crown Lands Act 1991 (NT), Pastoral Land Act 1992 (NT)).

The rights arising from these titles include access rights, rights to hunt and fish, rights to exclusive possession and rights which are roughly equivalent to private freehold. There are also procedural rights held by indigenous people which exceed those available to the wider community. These include the right to negotiate in relation to actions which may affect the use and enjoyment of native title (Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), ss.25-44.) and the right to veto mining exploration on Aboriginal land (Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth), s.42).

Generally, Aboriginal land is held communally either by native title holders or by a community organisation in trust for the benefit of traditional owners, etc. More detailed information can be found on the homepages of the Attorney General's Department (http://www.law.gov.au/aghome/aghome.htm) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (http://www.atsic.gov.au/).

Programmes and Projects 

Land management is subject to regulation by State and Territory Governments. The Commonwealth also provides assistance to landholders through programs that are part of the Natural Heritage Trust. The programs assist landowners and managers to implement self-reliant and sustainable management practices, and to address degradation concerns that have community and public impacts. The programs aim to bring about long term change in management practices by providing the information and skills that landowners and managers require to implement improved practices. Conservation programs, such as the Bushcare program, the Endangered Species program and the National Reserve system program provide assistance for activities for biological conservation that result in public benefits.

The following programs support integrated approaches to the planning and management of land resources:

• the National Landcare Program provides support for natural resource management projects with a production-oriented or nature conservation focus;
• the Bushcare program provides support for conserving and restoring native vegetation with an emphasis on biodiversity conservation as an integrated component of sustainable land use;
• the Murray-Darling 2001 initiative supports integrated and sustainable land and water planning and management in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia's largest river system;
• the National Rivercare Program aims to ensure the sustainable management, rehabilitation and conservation of rivers outside of the Murray-Darling Basin and to improve the health of these river systems;
• landcare related vegetation and forestry management programs - Bushcare, the Farm Forestry Program (FFP) and the North Queensland Community Rainforest Reforestation Program (CRRP);
• the National Feral Animal Control Program aims to reduce the impact of feral pests on native species, the natural environment and on agricultural production;
• strategies for the management of groundwater and salinity; and
• numerous State and Territory based-programs which employ integrated catchment management techniques, including programs directed at the Johnstone River region in Queensland and the Peel/Harvey area of Western Australia; and joint Federal/State co-operative programs on land use planning such as the development of the Cape York Peninsula Land Use Strategy.

Status  

In States and Territories clearing of native forest on private land occurs to a greater or lesser degree for a range of purposes including agriculture, grazing and plantation establishment. Control over the extent of clearing varies across State jurisdictions, with many having very stringent limitations. Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) between States/Territories and the Commonwealth apply to major forested regions which continue commercial harvesting, and are designed to ensure conservation of natural and cultural values through comprehensive, adequate and representative reserves within a framework of ecologically sustainable forest management. Provided certain criteria are met however, clearing of forested land for other purposes may occur within RFA regions. For more detailed information see the Regional Forest Agreements homepage at http://www.rfa.gov.au/.

The size of the Australian continent and the range and diversity of its landscapes pose difficulties in developing adequate information of sufficient detail to guide sound decision making at the local level. However, through the National Land and Water Resources Audit and other information systems, progress is being made.

Environment Australia is actively collecting and collating national environmental information in order to support the Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) which will come into effect on 16 July 2000. This should improve the Government's capacity to make decisions that will positively impact on sustainable land use.

n addition, under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989, administered by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ? Australia (AFFA), the Commonwealth has established a number of research and development corporations that carry out studies and investigations aimed at improving the profitability, productivity and ecologically sustainability of Australia's primary industries and natural resources. Under the Natural Heritage Trust, the National Landcare Program has also established the Landcare Information Service, delivered as a non-profit service to assist landholders to access information relevant to their decision-making needs.

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising 

To improve the delivery of Government services and activities at the Commonwealth level a number of programs concerned with separate resources (soil, water and vegetation) were integrated under the NHT. Under the Trust, programs such as the NLP and Bushcare are raising awareness of the nature and extent of land degradation among the community, empowering community groups to address degradation problems that are a common concern by providing them with the skills and information they require, and encouraging the development and adoption of self reliant and ecologically sustainable land management practices. Key issues addressed by the NLP include support for improved planning and management through the Property Management Planning Campaign and support for the development and implementation of regional and catchment plans for land, water and salinity management. Key issues addressed by Bushcare program are the decline in the quality and extent of Australia's native vegetation coverage, and the need to restore through revegetation, the environmental values and productive capacity of Australia's degraded land and water.

Information   

At the State, Territory and local government levels land and geographic information is being increasingly integrated to improve land administration and provide a legal, geographic and administrative basis for the orderly management and use of private and public land. There has also been important progress in improving the understanding of Australia's natural resource base. In the minerals area the Australian Geological Survey Organisation has developed and integrated mineral databases and geographical information systems. These databases include the Mineral Resources Database which has comprehensive data on some 2 500 mineral deposit and the Mineral Location Database which contains information of 73 000 mineral occurrences, including current and abandoned mine sites. These databases are or are being integrated with other environmental and natural resource databases to provide integrated analyses of mineral, environmental and other data to assist resource management and land management decisions.

The National Land and Water Resources Audit now being undertaken over four years as part of the Natural Heritage Trust has the goal of facilitating improved decision making in land and water resources management. The Audit will compile nationally compatible datasets of parameters which provide a measure of the status of Australia's land and water resources, and which over time will identify changes to that status. The Audit provides the opportunity for government agencies, industry and community groups to work closely to establish a framework for long term monitoring and assessment, providing data to support decision making, and for better understanding other relevant initiatives and investments in data gathering and information systems. It is intended that the Audit will provide a more robust natural resource management environment in Australia, in which decisions are made with the benefit of relevant and comprehensive data, with assessments of the likely costs and benefits from environmental, economic and social perspectives, and in the context of Australia's diverse and fragile natural resources.

Under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 administered by AFFA the Commonwealth has established a number of research and development corporations that carry out studies and investigations aimed at improving the profitability, productivity and ecologically sustainability of Australia's primary industries and natural resources. The Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation addresses the specific needs of sustainable and economically viable land and water resource management generally. Other industry based Corporations address issues that are particular to important pastoral and agricultural industries, such as the grains, sugar, cattle and horticultural industries. The Corporations have an important role in assisting industry and landholders to acquire the skills and develop the information necessary to implement sustainable and self-reliant management practices.

In addition to the large number of data sets managed by State and Territory governments, a number of national data bases are managed by the Bureau of Rural Sciences, the Australian Government Land Information organisation, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Geological Survey Organisation and Environment Australia. Moreover each State Government agency has extensive databases and decision support tools for their respective responsibilities. These feed into Federal databases. The National Land Water Resources Audit is also adding to these data sets and will provide a more comprehensive picture of the range of information managed by State, Territory and Commonwealth organisations.

More detailed information on particular aspects of integrated land management can be found on the following Commonwealth homepages: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ? Australia ( http://www.affa.gov.au/) and Department of the Environment and Heritage ( http://www.environment.gov.au/). Relevant State and Territory homepages include: New South Wales ( http://www.nsw.gov.au/), Victoria ( http://www.vic.gov.au/), Queensland ( http://www.qld.gov.au/), South Australia (http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/), Western Australia ( http://www.wa.gov.au/home.html), Tasmania ( http://www.tas.gov.au/), Northern Territory ( http://www.nt.gov.au/), Australian Capital Territory ( http://www.act.gov.au/). The Local Government peak body, the Australian Local Government Association, homepage is at http://www.alga.com.au/.

Research and Technologies   

Australia has a legislative requirement to prepare state of the environment reports every five years, with the next one due in December 2001. Seven reports recommending indicators - for the land, inland waters, biodiversity, estuaries and the sea, the atmosphere, human settlements, and natural and cultural heritage themes - provide a comprehensive set of indicators for the 2001 state of the environment report and form an important basis for development of sustainability indicators (see http://www.environment.gov.au/epcg/soe/soe.html).

Australia is developing indicators to assist in the sustainable management of its natural resources. Based on the Montreal Process, Regional Forestry Agreements incorporate indicators to assist in the sustainable management of Australia's forest resources. The Bureau of Rural Science is also developing a framework of indicators to assist in the sustainable management of Australia's fisheries. The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management is also assisting in the development of indicators for Australia's agricultural industries.

ENSO is strongly correlated with the large interannual climate variability experienced over much of Australia. In particular, ENSO is strongly associated with the quasi-regular occurrence of droughts and floods which affect most of the agricultural areas of eastern Australia and result in large interannual variations in rural productivity. The continuing development of seasonal climate forecasting capabilities is increasing the capacity of the agricultural sector to incorporate the climatic effects of ENSO into land management practices. Climate prediction models are currently being used to assist in drought preparedness and improved models are being developed.

Financing 

The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), which is jointly administered by AFFA and Environment Australia, provides funding for a number of sustainable land management and environment conservation programs, including the National Landcare Program (NLP) and the Bushcare program. The Trust is the largest financial commitment to environmental action by any Federal government in Australia's history, with funding of about A$1.5 billion over six years from 1996-97 until June 2002. The Trust provides an overarching mechanism which integrates the broad range of natural resource management issues including sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation and sustainable water use. It recognises the urgent need for action to address current degradation, and prevent the further decline in the quality of Australia's natural environment. 

The main objective of the Trust - to conserve, repair and replenish Australia's natural capital infrastructure - is directly relevant to the core objectives of ecologically sustainable development. The principles of ecologically sustainable development are embedded in the enabling legislation of the Trust. The Trust also recognises the need for the Commonwealth to provide national leadership and work co-operatively with other levels of government and the whole community. Programs in the NHT are generally matched dollar for dollar by the State and Territory Governments and so the total expenditure is over A$3 billion. The 'Partnership Agreements' embody the shared responsibilities. The NHT is generally additional to the 'Resource Management' responsibilities of the states, which were already underway.

The objectives of the Trust are to:

• provide a framework for strategic capital investment and to stimulate additional investment in the natural environment;
• achieve complementary environment protection, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture outcomes consistent with agreed national strategies; and
• provide a framework for co-operative partnerships between communities, industries and all levels of government.

A substantial proportion of Trust funds is devoted to programs to support sustainable land management. The Trust provides funding for programs and initiatives including:

Vegetation

• Bushcare ? The National Vegetation Initiative
• Farm Forestry Program

Inland Waters

• Murray Darling 2001
• National Rivercare Program
• Riverworks Tasmania
• National River Health Program
• Waterwatch
• National Wetlands Program

Biodiversity

• National Reserve System
• Endangered Species Program

Land Resources

• National Landcare Program (including Landcare tax measures)
• National Land and Water Resources Audit
• National Feral Animals Control Program
• National Weeds Program
• FarmBis: Advanced Property Management Planning

Coasts and Oceans

• Coasts and Clean Seas
• Oceans Policy
• Fisheries Action Program

Environment Protection

• Waste Management Awareness Program

Atmosphere

• Air Pollution in Major Cities

Australian Heritage

• World Heritage Area Management and Upkeep

A streamlined program delivery process is in place for the Trust that provides community groups with a single entry point and application process for accessing the Trust programs. Program arrangements are also designed to promote regional approaches to project development based on co-operative Partnership Agreements between the Commonwealth and the State/Territory Governments. While not a party to the Partnership Agreements, local government is also involved in projects. These agreements encompass the range of activities funded through the NHT and accommodate all relevant Government agencies. The agreements ensure that State and Territory policies and guidelines for environmental protection and sustainable development are consistent with national standards and priorities. In addition, as part of the agreements the Commonwealth seeks complementary and consistent State and Territory regulatory and administrative arrangements. The States and Territories are themselves major investors in environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources. Investment through the NHT complements State and Territory investments and is designed to stimulate additional activities by these jurisdictions.

The regional scale is generally the most effective scale to address the issues targeted by the Trust, and funding priority is therefore attached to projects that are an integral part of a regional strategy or plan. Regional and State project assessment panels examine project proposals at an early stage and allow proposals to be assessed against regional priorities and against progress in implementing regional plans. The majority of the membership of the panels is drawn in the majority from community groups and non-government organisations. The panels ensure that the views of these organisations are taken into account when priorities are identified and projects selected and assessed. A network of Trust facilitators has been established to encourage co-ordination and integration of Trust activities for particular programs (including Landcare, Bushcare and Coasts and Clean Seas) or interested parties (such as Local Government or indigenous groups). For example, the Multiple Use Strategic Plan for the Southern Gulf of Carpentaria, involves the Commonwealth and State Governments, various industry sectors (fishing, agriculture and minerals) and traditional land owners. Facilitators also assist community groups to develop proposals for assistance as well as implement them. Further details of Trust administration are provided in the section 'Involvement of Major Groups in Decision-making'.

Cooperation  

Australia's overseas aid program contains a number of activities, which specifically focus on support to integrated land resource planning, and management. Examples include the Land Titling Projects in Thailand and Indonesia, the recently completed Remote Sensing and Natural Resources Management and Development projects in the Philippines and the Land Mobilization project and support for the National Forestry and Conservation Action Program in Papua New Guinea. Many of AusAID's activities in other sectors also support the improvement of land resource planning and management capacity.

* * * 

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5^th, 6^th, and 8th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: December 1999.

Click here for the National Strategy for Ecological Sustainable Development

Click here for Regional Forest Agreements

Click here for the Natural Heritage Trust.

National Wilderness Inventory.

Click here for the Best Practice in Environmental Management in Mining booklets.

Click here for the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity

Click here for National Land and Water Resources Audit

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MOUNTAINS

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

Management of mountainous areas is, in general terms, the responsibility of the relevant State or Territory or Local Governments. Many mountain sites are included in protected areas managed by State or Territory conservation agencies.

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

The Alps national parks are managed by three parks agencies: The Australian Capital Territory Parks and Conservation Service, the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The Federal Government, through the Department of the Environment's Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, supports the management agencies with coordination, secretariat and financial assistance. To facilitate a common approach to management for the alpine parks and reserves, the State and Federal Ministers responsible for the Australian Alps Co-operative Management Program maintain a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), established in 1986, and revised in 1989 and again in 1996.

The objective of the agreement is to pursue cooperative management and develop complementary policies to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the Australian Alps, whilst providing opportunities for public enjoyment of that resource. The Australian Alps Liaison Committee was formed to coordinate the development and implementation of co-operative programs and arrangements.  

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

The 1996-99 Strategic Plan for the cooperative management of the Australian Alps national parks is in place. This is an extension of the 1993-96 Strategic Plan and reflects community consultation and agency review of priorities.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

No information is available

Programmes and Projects 

No information is available

Status   

Australia has a generally flat land surface with relatively low precipitation and run-off. The Great Dividing Range is a discontinuous chain of mountainous terrain that extends up the east coast and into Cape York. The higher altitude peaks often harbour a range of plant and animal species that are of Gondwanan origins and thus of high conservation significance. Australia's mountainous regions have their greatest extent in the south-east of the continent (a region known as the Australian Alps) and in parts of the island State of Tasmania. The Australian Alps cover an area of roughly 25,000 km2, or about 0.3% of Australia.

The Alps and the mountainous areas of Tasmania have a long history of grazing. In recent years other industries and land uses, particularly hydroelectricity generation, forestry, skiing, fishing, bushwalking, trail riding and general tourism have come to dominate. Protection of important catchments is a high priority, as are the control of erosion, the protection of cultural heritage, and the conservation of unique alpine fauna and flora habitat.

The Australian Alps national parks encompass an area of approximately 1.5 million hectares of the Australian mainland and provide protection to approximately 62 % of the Australian Alps geographic unit. Much of the area outside national parks is also public land. It is managed under a multiple use strategy, covering uses such as skiing, cattle grazing and forestry activities.

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

Through the implementation of the MOU, the Australian Alps national parks are developing an international reputation for their cooperative management. The IUCN publication, "Parks on the Borderline: Experience in Transfrontier Conservation," give recognition to the success of cross-border cooperation between the different MOU agencies. The IUCN publication indicates that the Australian Alps parks and reserves constitute the most advanced operating cross-border park management agreement now in existence.

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing 

A total annual budget of $400 000 is provided for the Australian Alps National Parks Co-operative Management Program through contributions from the States and the Commonwealth. This is in addition to the operational budgets of the individual parks and management agencies.

Cooperation  

Australian expertise in dryland agricultural methods has been used to improve the sustainability of agricultural practices in a number of marginal mountain environments in Asia and the Pacific. Examples of such projects include the Highland Agricultural and Social Development project in northern Thailand, the Nepal Australia Community Forestry project, the Laos Upland Agriculture project, the Nusa Tenggara Timur Watershed Management project in Indonesia and two integrated area development projects in Simbu province in the Papua New Guinea Highlands. Together these projects total over $60 million. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has supported research projects on reducing degradation of upland areas of South Asia caused by soil erosion and acidification.

* * * 

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

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OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

In Australia, responsibility for management of the coastal zone, its resources and the offshore waters, is shared between the Commonwealth, Government and State/Territory and Local Governments. The Offshore Constitutional Settlement incorporates arrangements between the Commonwealth and the States relating to management of marine resources, including oil, gas and other seabed minerals, fisheries, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and other marine protected areas, historic shipwrecks, and ship-sourced marine pollution. These arrangements have facilitated a degree of integrated management across jurisdictions in some sectors, for example fisheries. 

The legislative basis for planning and management of the land area of the coastal zone is primarily provided by the States. Most States are undergoing or have undergone reviews of their coastal management systems to identify problem areas and options for coastal management reform. Local Governments play a major role in coastal zone management as day-to-day managers, in providing infrastructure and facilities, and in land-use planning decisions. 

The Commonwealth and the States both have responsibilities in the offshore area. The Commonwealth has primary responsibility from 3 nautical miles to the outer boundary of the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone and the edge of the adjacent continental shelf. The Commonwealth also has jurisdiction over the external territories, and areas reserved for activities such as defence and transport purposes.

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

The Government of Australia singed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982, and ratified it in 1994.

The Commonwealth Government has reviewed its role in environment protection and has introduced new legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Bill, 1998. The Bill identifies marine and coastal issues as matters of national significance. 

The Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 is to be revised to reflect changes to relevant International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations. Changes being considered include application of regulations to sewage and air pollution as well as improving domestic enforcement provisions in the Act. 

Reflecting jurisdictional responsibilities, there is no Commonwealth legislation dealing specifically with land-based sources of marine pollution. However, together with all other jurisdictions, the Commonwealth has endorsed a National Water Quality Management Strategy for fresh and marine waters. Through national water quality guidelines, industry specific effluent management guidelines and monitoring and review guidelines, this strategy aims to reduce the impact of land-based sources of marine pollution. As a further indication of its commitment to improve marine and estuarine water quality and minimise land-based marine pollution, the Commonwealth Government has given a strong commitment to develop national marine and estuarine water quality standards through a National Environment Protection Measure. To date, the States and Northern Territory have taken a number of different approaches to the issue of pollution of territorial waters. New South Wales and the Northern Territory have legislation dealing directly with land-based and marine water pollution, while other States use general environmental legislation for the purposes of statutory protection against water pollution. 

The Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 and the Offshore Minerals Act 1994 provide management and regulation of petroleum and mineral exploration and production in offshore areas under Commonwealth jurisdiction. New objective-based regulations are being developed in consultations between regulators, environment agencies, industry and environment non-government organisations for the management of the environmental performance of the offshore petroleum industry. Offshore petroleum and mineral activities are also subject to the requirements of general environment protection legislation. Mirror legislation for the petroleum and minerals industries applies in offshore areas under State/Northern Territory jurisdiction.

The Environmental Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 regulates the dumping of wastes and other matter at sea. The Act has jurisdiction from the low water mark out to the 200nm zone. The Act is currently being amended to reflect changes at the international level. The Sea Installations Act 1987 regulates the installation of structures into the sea which can be floating or fixed to the sea floor and ensures they are operated safely and in a manner that is consistent with the protection of the environment.

Under the framework of Australia's Offshore Constitutional Settlement, fisheries management plans are drawn up to reflect biological and fish stock boundaries rather than administrative lines on maps. The facilitation of these arrangements by the Ministerial Council on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture produces management plans that are streamlined, avoid overlap and enable stocks to be managed in an increasingly cooperative and long term sustainable basis.

Codes of Practice, Standards or Guidelines

The development of codes of practice by professional associations and peak industry groups has involved industry in a joint approach to problem solving. Codes of practice are currently being or have been developed for the aquaculture industry, the recreational fishing industry, the coastal planning sector, the Surf Lifesaving Association, the mining industry, the electricity industry, ports industry in regard to dredging operations, and the tourism industry. Other proposed codes include with the Institution of Engineers, commercial fishing sector and water authorities.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

The States have been granted title to the seabed within 3 nautical miles of the territorial sea baselines. Examples of individual State/Territory programs and actions can be found in the Oceans Policy issues paper.  A National Oceans Office has been established to coordinate matters related to oceans and seas and to further the development of Australia's Oceans Policy in conjunction with State and Territory Governments.

Australia has a number of strategies and policies in regard to integrated coastal zone management, marine protection and sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources.  The Commonwealth Coastal Policy, developed in 1995, identified guiding principles for the sustainable management of coastal resources and provided for a program of cooperative action. It is a statement of the Commonwealth Government's position on coastal management matters. 

The Commonwealth Government launched Australia's Oceans Policy on December 23 1998. Principal strategies in the policy are: integrated ecosystem-based planning and management; greater coordination between the States and the Commonwealth to facilitate effective management; a strong commitment to the principle of multiple use and the precautionary principle; and an improved capacity to understand our marine environment through increased scientific effort. 

Australia's coastal and ocean fisheries are managed by Commonwealth, State and Territory fishery management agencies based on legislation and detailed management plans formulated on the principles of ecological sustainable development. Management plans typically contain limited access measures, size of boat and gear restrictions, area and seasonal closures, catch limits and reporting, and increasingly measures to limit bycatch and interaction with non-target species. Management plans are being broadened to encompass ecosystem considerations. 

Fisheries management plans are developed collaboratively with fishery managers and scientists, fishing industry (commercial and recreational), and government and non-government environmental agencies. Australia spends $AUS50 million per year on research and development to ensure fishing is undertaken sustainably.

Recreational fishing is an important leisure activity enjoyed by over 3 million Australians. Management and development of recreational fishing is being guided by implementation of the policy >Recreational Fishing in Australia: A National Policy' (1994). The policy has recently been supplemented by The National Code of Practice for Recreational and Sport Fishing.

The National Aquaculture Strategy, developed by the Ministerial Council on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture in 1994, is guiding the long term development of sustainable aquaculture in Australia.  The Strategy to Manage Discharges of Ballast Water, believed to be a world first, aims to reduce the risk of introducing unwanted aquatic organisms into Australian waters. 

The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) has released the National Maritime Accidents and Pollution Strategy to reduce marine pollution from shipping. The Strategy identifies priority issues including ballast water; port waste reception facilities; marine debris; education and outreach; promotion of programs, research, environmental impact assessment, industry action, and community action; and participation in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other international activities. 

A National Bycatch Policy is at an advanced stage of development.   The National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances (NATPLAN), a cooperative arrangement between the Commonwealth, States and industry, is regularly reviewed and updated.  Many non-coastal government policies have implications for the management and conservation of marine and coastal environment. For example, the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity considers ecological sustainable fisheries management practices, and the National Transport and Sustainable Development Policy, being jointly prepared by the Commonwealth Government and State and Territory Governments, will include maritime issues.

Policies or Plans for fragile ecosystems.

Zoning and management plans provide the framework for the management of use in Australia's multiple-use Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Australia is a world leader in using MPAs for marine conservation and management and has 24 per cent of the total number of MPAs in the world. A primary focus in the establishment of MPAs in Australia has been the protection and sustainable use of fragile ecosystems, in particular coral reefs (for example the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Ningaloo Marine Park), and mangroves and seagrasses (which are in many of the MPAs declared by State Governments). The Commonwealth Government is currently undertaking assessments of five additional MPAs in Commonwealth waters, and two of these have significant coral reef ecosystems.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

Development of Australia's Oceans Policy has included a Scoping Paper and an Issues Paper for public comment; a national Forum; public presentations in all capital cities and major coastal regions; meetings with peak non-governmental organisations and industry bodies; and the formation of a Ministerial Advisory Group comprised of representatives of conservation, industry, academic, indigenous and non-government organisations. 

Several of the major Natural Heritage Trust programmes, including Coastcare, the Fisheries Action Programme and Landcare, specifically target funding to projects involving community groups for on-ground action, and to promote their involvement in planning and management processes.

Programmes and Projects   

Coasts and Clean Seas is a major component of the Natural Heritage Trust. The Trust encourages partnerships between community organisations and governments in order to take joint responsibility for the environment and to improve the ability of communities to manage their own environments and natural resources. 

Coasts and Clean Seas is designed to help tackle coastal and marine pollution problems, threats to marine biodiversity and habitat degradation, and promote sustainable use of Australia's coastal and marine areas, including estuarine areas. The focus of Coasts and Clean Seas is on practical actions and on-ground works. The initiative is delivered through the tripartite Coastal Memoranda of Understanding between the Commonwealth, Government and State and Local Governments.

New activities under Coasts and Clean Seas include the following: 

• Clean Seas Program;
• Marine Species Protection Program:
• Introduced Marine Pests Initiative;
• accelerated development of the Coastal Resource Atlas;
• Coastal and Marine Planning Program; Fisheries Action Program; and
• Oceans Policy development.

These will complement ongoing programs including:

• Coastcare;
• Marine Protected Areas Program;
• Capacity Building;
• Coastal Monitoring; and
• Vulnerability Assessment.

Coasts and Clean Seas is complemented by other Natural Heritage Trust programs to reduce land-sourced pollution. Also of relevance are the integrated catchment management approaches undertaken by most major metropolitan areas, to reduce pollution through combinations of source reductions and specific treatment measures.

Status   

Major uses of coastal areas

Most of Australia's population live in the coastal zone and most international visitors stay on the coast. In Australia, fisheries are important for local consumption, export and recreation. In terms of tonnage carried and distance travelled, Australia ranks as the fifth largest user of shipping in the world and has 68 main ports. Offshore petroleum production is of great economic and strategic importance to Australia. Oil drilling is prohibited in marine protected areas such as the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and in Ningaloo Marine Park. In the Australian Antarctic Territory, any activity relating to mineral resources, other than scientific research, is prohibited. 

The 1995 State of the Marine Environment Report provided the first comprehensive description of Australia's marine environment, its uses and values, the issues and threats affecting it, and its management.  Subsequent reviews and reports, including the 1996 State of the Environment Report, the 1997 Marine Industry Development Strategy and background papers compiled to assist development of Australia's Oceans Policy, have provided further information on various aspects of marine and coastal environments and their uses.

Contribution of Marine Industries to the Economy

The coastal zone supports about 80 per cent of Australia? total population, most of it highly concentrated in coastal cities in the south-east and south-west. Australia's marine industries grew from $AUS16 billion in 1987 to about $AUS30 billion in 1994, representing about 8 per cent of the country's total economic production (GDP). Annual growth during this period was about 8 per cent in real terms, indicating expansion well in excess of general economic growth. Major marine industries include tourism and recreation estimated to be $AUS15.2 billion, 1993-94), offshore oil and gas ($AUS7.8 billion, 1995-96), shipping ($AUS2.2 billion, 1994-95), commercial fisheries ($AUS1.7 billion, 1994-95) and defence shipbuilding ($AUS1.1 billion). It was estimated in 1994 that the value of marine industries could rise to between $AUS50 to $AUS85 billion by the year 2020.

Coastal and marine tourism is a significant proportion of tourism in Australia and is the largest employer of the marine industries. In its 1997 publication, the Australian Marine Industries and Sciences Council estimated that in 1993-94 the value of international and domestic marine tourism and recreation was $15.2 billion.

Methods to encourage sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources

With the broadening of fisheries management to accommodate wider environmental and habitat considerations, multiple use or zoning is increasingly becoming a part of fisheries management in Australia.  Commercial fishing activity is generally regulated through fishery management plans. Compliance with these plans is mandatory with State fisheries agencies generally responsible for day-to-day monitoring and policing. The management plans adopted by State and Territory Governments and the Commonwealth Government all embrace the concept of ecologically sustainable development. In 1995, a national policy was developed to address recreational fishing. 

Special arrangements have been made to address fishing bycatches. A Commonwealth Bycatch Policy is at an advanced stage of development and forms the basis of a National Bycatch Policy, currently in draft form. Fundamental to the implementation of these policies will be development of fishery-specific actions including, at the Commonwealth level, formal incorporation of Bycatch Action Plans on a fishery by fishery basis.  Current legislative measures that encourage conservation include: the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, the Whale Protection Act 1980, and the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992.

Impact of Shipping

Following the International Maritime Organization (IMO) declaring the Great Barrier Reef a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area, the IMO in 1996 gave Australia approval for the introduction of one of the world's first mandatory ship reporting systems. In 1997 REEFREP was launched as part of a major move towards boosting ship safety and reducing the risk of pollution in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait. The interactive radio and radar system was established by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Queensland Transport. Under the system, all ships over 50 metres in length and certain other vessels carrying hazardous cargo are required to supply regular position reports to the Ship Reporting Centre, REEF CENTRE, while passing through the inner route of the Great Barrier Reef or the Torres Strait.

Impact of coastal and marine based industries

The great majority of Australia's population is concentrated within the coastal zone which has been significantly altered by urban, industrial and port development, and by a variety of facilities for tourism and recreation. Major modifications include coastal engineering structures such as breakwaters and seawalls associated with ports, harbours, canal estates and marinas. 

Primary sources of land-based pollution of the marine environment

Declining water quality caused by rising levels of nutrients is a serious issue affecting Australia's marine and coastal environments. Clearing of land, overgrazing and cropping have greatly increased the amount of sediments entering the sea. A range of discharges and emissions are impacting on our oceans including heavy metals, organochlorines, litter and sewage.

The issue of cumulative impacts generated by the lack of a coordinated and integrated framework for regional planning and management is being addressed by the Coastal and Marine Planning Program (funded through the Natural Heritage Trust).

In response to the issue of marine pollution Australia's Oceans Policy sets out a number of actions such as supporting the development of National Environment Protection Measures.

Activities related to fragile ecosystems

Coral reefs are relatively well represented in marine protected areas in Australia. Significant areas are protected in all of the places where reefs are found. Accompanying the Great Barrier Reef there are major areas of coral reefs in the Torres Strait, the Coral Sea Territories, and along the central and northern Western Australian coastline. 

Australia has the highest biological diversity of seagrasses in the world, the largest areas of temperate seagrass and one of the largest areas of tropical seagrass. A series of state workshops on seagrass monitoring were held in 1997. A national workshop was also held with recommendations of the workshop, in particular the need to establish a national seagrass monitoring program, being considered for implementation through the Commonwealth Coastal Monitoring Program under Coasts and Clean Seas. 

Australia has the third largest area of mangroves in the world, and has some of the most diverse communities. The Ramsar Convention on wetlands includes coastal wetlands such as mangrove forests, salt marshes, dune lakes, lagoons, lakes and swamps. Australia's obligations under the Ramsar Convention are primarily met through legislation and administrative arrangements governed by the State and Territory Governments.

Challenges  

Marine and coastal management in Australia involves a large number of different management strategies, agreements, arrangements and agencies. Government responsibilities in the coastal zone are fragmented and often overlap, impeding effective management and planning. 

The sheer size of Australia's Marine Jurisdiction - 11 million square kilometres of ocean and a further 5.1 million square kilometres of claimable continental shelf - presents particular challenges in terms of the acquisition of knowledge and effective enforcement and surveillance. Basic knowledge of resources and environmental conditions in the remote, deeper areas needs to be expanded in order to improve the management of the oceans.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

Coasts and Clean Seas includes capacity building initiatives covering professional development and training such as a short course program to meet the training needs of coastal managers, supports development of industry codes of practice (with the initial focus on aquaculture, recreational fishing, planning and the tourism industry), and is increasing public access to coastal information through the electronic CoastNet and the Australian Coastal Atlas.  A considerable amount of consultation and negotiation with all major players was involved in determining professional development and training needs. Particular attention was given to addressing the special needs of local and state government personnel, who are key decision-makers in coastal areas, as well as committees of management, indigenous managers, industry and community interest groups. 

Other professional development initiatives include a series of cross-cultural management workshops, which aim to provide opportunities for dialogue and information exchange between coastal managers and coastal indigenous groups. This will work towards achieving mutual understanding and cooperation in relation to coastal management.   The Waterwatch Australia Program, a community participation and education program, promotes total catchment planning and management which contributes to addressing land-based pollution. It is Australia's largest environmental education and participation program, with an estimated 50?00 people regularly involved in water way monitoring. Of the 1800 community groups involved, between 200-300 are monitoring tidal waters and are undertaking actions at the local level to improve water quality. 

Campaigns to Raise Awareness, particularly in relation to the International Year of the Ocean.

A substantive contribution to the International Year of the Ocean has been the development and release of Australia's Oceans Policy by the Commonwealth Government. Under this umbrella a number of events, including a national forum and the release of discussion papers on major issues requiring consideration in the development of the Policy, have been undertaken.

A host of activities have been organised to raise community awareness of marine and coastal issues under the International Year of the Ocean banner. Major activities have included an Ocean Writer's Competition, conferences on the role of education in marine conservation, workshops on the prevention of marine pollution, exhibitions and media events. Ocean Care Day was held in December 1998 to celebrate Australia's marine environment. The research vessels RV Franklin and the Southern Surveyor made a series of capital city and regional port calls to provide access for the public to promote understanding of marine research. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has established a web site specifically for the International Year of the Ocean which includes links to CSIRO Marine Research Activities and Information about Australia's Oceans.

Information   

Within all jurisdictions, there are large datasets and information that are not available and readily accessible to the people who need it for informed decision-making. This deficiency is being addressed by the Commonwealth through the development of a suite of internet-based mechanisms, including a national marine information system (NatMIS), the Marine and Coastal Data Directory of Australia, the Australian Coastal Atlas and CoastNet . (Access to these facilities can be made through the Commonwealth's Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN).  A set of reports on Environmental Indicators for National State of the Environment Reporting(including estuaries and the sea, and ecosystem health) have been produced.

Research and Technologies   

The 1998 draft Marine Science and Technology Plan identifies a range of technology-based marine industries with prospects for future growth, including marine biotechnology and renewable energy. Ownership of genetic resources is likely to become a substantial issue in the development of marine pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. A Commonwealth/State Working Group on Access to Australia' Genetic Resources has been established to investigate and report on action required to develop a national approach to access. A discussion paper was distributed for public comment in April 1998. The Plan proposes means of coordination of effort in its implementation and in better coordinating and managing marine data.

Financing 

The Commonwealth Government allocated $AUS125 million over five years (1996-97 to 2000-01) for Coasts and Clean Seas to focus on marine and coastal environments. The Commonwealth Government has committed $AUS50 million over three years for management of our oceans. The Government also identified an important area for development in implementing Australia's Oceans Policy and moving towards an ecosystem basis for planning and management.

Cooperation  

Australia has many obligations and engages in a number of activities in the coastal zone because it is a party to various international treaties and conventions. These cover such matters as maritime pollution, shipping operations, oceanic oil pollution, environmental data collection and service provision, coastal navigation, preservation of flora and fauna (including whales, dolphins, seals and migratory birds) and their habitats, and the conservation of World Heritage properties. Agreements may be bilateral (for example, the Japan-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement), regional (for example, the Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region), or global (for example, MARPOL, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships). 

Australia is a major donor to the South Pacific Forum Secretariat, the Pacific Community, the South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), the University of the South Pacific (USP), the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). Australia also supports the East Asian Seas (EAS) Action Plan and participates in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Marine Resource Conservation Working Group. It has actively contributed to the development and regional implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Activities (GPA). 

Australia is a founding member of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), and the ICRI Secretariat from 1996 to 1998. Australia is an active participant in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and is playing an important role in the development of the ballast water annex to MARPOL and a global instrument banning the use of organotins as biocides on vessels. Australia signed the Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna that entered into force in 1994. Australia, as a member of the International Whaling Commission was an active proponent in the setting up of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Australia is currently discussing with its Pacific neighbours the establishment of the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary.  Through the Australian aid program, Australia is also committed to the sustainable development of small island developing states (SIDS) with a focus on Pacific island countries. Australia's aid to the Pacific islands (excluding Papua New Guinea) will total an estimated $AUS131.2 million in 1998-99. 

The goal of Australia's aid program is to assist these countries to achieve the maximum possible degree of self-sufficiency. Taking into account recipient government priorities, Australia's own assessment of the principal development needs of the region and its areas of comparative advantage as a donor, Australia's aid program will be focused on selected areas including natural resources management. 

Australia assists natural resource management in the Pacific region through projects in fisheries and through contributions to coastal and oceanic fisheries programs undertaken by the Forum Fisheries Agency and the Pacific community.

The Australian aid program addresses issues related to oceans and seas through bilateral and regional projects in coastal management and fisheries and through contributions to coastal and oceanic fisheries programs. One example is the $AUS4 million ASEAN-Australian Economic Cooperation Program (AAECP) Coastal Zone and Environmental Resource Project. This project aims to enhance national capacity and infrastructure in ASEAN countries to better address coastal zone management, and human resource development issues.

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This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th, 6th and 7th sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: February 1999.

For national information on Coastal zone management, click here.

Click here for the Commonwealth Coastal Policy.

Click here for the National Oceans Policy.

Click here for the Marine Science and Technology Plan.

Click here for Coastcare

Click here for the Natural Heritage Trust.

Click here for the Fisheries Action Program

Click here for Sea Dumping Act and Regulations

To access the Web Site of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, click here:

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TOXIC CHEMICALS

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

National committees and federal government inter-departmental committees, comprising departments with chemical-related responsibilities, have been created to enhance cooperative consideration of international and domestic chemicals policy issues. The National Registration Authority has the primary decision-making powers in relation to registration or non-registration of agricultural and veterinary chemicals for sale in Australia. Worksafe Australia is responsible for the administration of notification and assessment of industrial chemicals. In the assessment processes of industrial chemicals and agricultural and veterinary chemicals, advice on public health and environmental implications is provided by health, occupational and environmental agencies.

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

Australia has implemented an extensive legislative and structural framework for the sound management of chemicals at both the federal, State and local levels. Programs are in place for the assessment of industrial, agricultural and veterinary chemicals under federal statutory assessment schemes, including the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) and the National Registration Scheme for agricultural and veterinary chemicals (NRS). Federal government agencies monitor chemicals for bioaccumulation, persistence and unacceptable toxicity and work through NICNAS, NRS, and in conjunction with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/International Program for Chemical Safety (OECD/IPCS) to set priorities for assessment of chemicals of domestic and international concern. Australia has also established an Existing Chemicals Review Program to review older agricultural and veterinary chemicals against contemporary standards.

Therapeutic chemicals and food additives are also managed through federal legislation which provides a cooperative, national focus for the regulation of chemicals in food and, where appropriate, the establishment of Maximum Residue Limits.  

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

The Australian government is strongly committed to the sound management of chemicals and participates in domestic and international activities to implement actions addressing the six program areas of chapter 19 of Agenda 21. It seeks to promote increased collaboration between the Federal, State and Territory Governments, industry, academia and NGOs interested in various aspects of chemicals management. Consultations are held on a regular basis to enable input by industry and other non-government organisations in the development of government policy.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

No information is available

Programmes and Projects   

Australia actively participates in programs aimed at the international exchange of assessment information, including assessments prepared for industrial, agricultural and veterinary chemicals. Progress in this area includes: recent modifications in the structure of some of Australia's assessment reports; negotiations on confidentiality and proprietary rights issues with industry; the development of reports with other countries that provide internationally acceptable content, structure, and decision making information; and provision of information on Australia's schedule of reviews and details of those reports available for exchange.

Australia advocates the harmonisation of classification systems and labeling wherever appropriate and has achieved uniform labeling for agricultural, veterinary and domestic chemicals and drugs. Mechanisms for harmonisation of chemicals management are being considered. 

A large program of research and development is conducted by various national and State organisations in cooperation with national research organisations such as CSIRO and universities. Research activities include field evaluation of new products; efficacy trials to determine cost effective treatment and applications rates; alternative pesticides; integrated pest management technology; identification and evaluation of biological control agents and development and evaluation of pest and disease resistance in host plants and animals.

Status   

No information is available

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

The Australian government has conducted a major campaign to inform the public about concerns over lead, in particular, providing information and a financial incentive to encourage a switch from leaded petrol. The federal government also undertook and has published the results of a national survey of blood lead levels, particularly of young children.

Information   

The Federal government supports public availability of information on risks presented by industrial, agricultural and veterinary chemicals and participates fully in the voluntary prior informed consent (PIC) procedure. Public information is to be an integral part of programs being developed, such as the strategy to manage scheduled wastes and the National Pollutant Inventory. The Inventory is to be premised on the need for guaranteed access by the public to emissions information.

Australia has developed a National Poisons Register and participates in the development of the IPCS INTOX project which aims to promote the development of poison information centres in each country and to develop harmonised data services to assist poisons centres worldwide in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of poisoning. Australian State and Territory governments have established comprehensive programs aimed at educating workers on chemical safety issues. The chemical industry has also undertaken a voluntary program to improve the health, environmental and safety performance of its operations.

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing   

No information is available

Cooperation

Australia actively participates in activities to strengthen international and regional cooperation on the safe management of hazardous chemicals. The Australian government is an active member of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and hosted the second Intersessional Group Meeting of the IFCS as part of its support for Forum activities on Chapter 19 of Agenda 21. Australia is a lead country for a number of international risk assessment and risk management activities. Exchange programs for assessment reports on therapeutic chemicals also exist between Australia and Canada, Sweden and New Zealand.

Through its membership of the OECD, Australia participates in international activities aimed at harmonising chemicals management methods (including OECD Test Guidelines and Chemicals and Pesticides Programs) and is involved in the OECD High Production Volume Chemicals Program and the OECD Complementary Information Exchange Procedure, the OECD EXICHEM database (and other relevant international schemes) providing information on regulatory developments. Australia has taken the lead on the exchange of assessment reports on new industrial chemicals through the OECD Chemicals Program and, since 1992, has participated in the OECD pilot pesticides project to compare toxicity data reviews for human health and environmental hazard assessment and the subsequent OECD Ad Hoc Exchange Program for Pesticide Assessments. 

Australia has participated actively in discussions arising from UNEP initiatives to develop a legally binding instrument for prior informed consent (PIC) procedure and to develop recommendations on international action on certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Australia also participates in the UN London Guidelines, the FAO Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, the IRPTC and the ILO information exchange scheme. 

Australia provides assistance to countries in the Asia and the South Pacific regions through the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the South Pacific Regional Environment Program to develop national profiles on chemicals management infrastructure. Australian development cooperation includes risk reduction programs in developing countries, particularly through reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilisers. This includes promotion of integrated pest and weed management systems and the improvement of crop species and research into chemical alternatives to pest control. 

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This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

Click here for the National Pollutant Inventory.

Click here for the National Strategy for the Management of Scheduled Wastes.

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WASTE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

SOLID WASTE AND SANITATION

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

In Australia, waste management is the responsibility of three spheres of government: Federal, State/Territory and local government. Each level of government is responsible for specific roles in regard to the management of waste. The Federal Government is responsible for leading and coordinating the development of the policy and regulatory framework for waste management and for international conventions and agreements on waste.

State and Territory governments are responsible for the development of waste management strategies, legislation, standards and regulations for their jurisdictions. Local governments are responsible for the day to day management of waste collection and disposal. Coordination of national waste management issues is also addressed through the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC). Local governments also develop waste management strategies and plans to manage the large variety of waste materials in their local areas. They are responsible for the day to day management of waste collection, recycling and disposal.

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

No information is available

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

The National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy (1992) includes recycling targets and national packaging guidelines, sets the target of a 50% reduction in rubbish to landfill by the year 2000 and has national recycling targets to be achieved by 1995. The Strategy complements comprehensive waste minimisation and recycling programs being implemented throughout Australia at all spheres of government. The Strategy incorporates the waste management hierarchy (in order of preference) of waste avoidance, waste reduction, waste recycling or reclamation, waste treatment and waste disposal.  Other waste and water quality management issues are being pursued through, for example, the National Water Quality Management Strategy, involving the following principles:

• Adoption of a life cycle approach to waste minimisation;

• Application of the precautionary principle to waste management;

• Adoption of a user pays approach;

• Application of the polluter pays principle;

•  Incorporation of full social and environmental costs into waste management options;

•  Cleaner production techniques, as opposed to end-of-pipe waste treatment.

The material specific targets set out in the National Kerbside Recycling Strategy and the National Packaging Guideline expired in 1995. ANZECC convened a Task Force on Industry Waste Reduction Agreements to develop new voluntary agreements in areas that include green and organic waste, construction and demolition waste and with the packaging industry. The new agreements incorporate waste reduction at source and recycling targets.

The use of economic instruments to deal with solid waste and water issues is currently being widely investigated and/or implemented by the various spheres of government within Australia. Trade waste charges have been proposed and are being implemented by several State governments. Local authorities are reviewing charging systems for water.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

No information is available

Programmes and Projects   

A National Waste Database and a National Solid Waste Classification System are presently being built. Australia is initiating programs to develop and strengthen national capabilities in research and design of environmentally sound technologies, as well as programs designed to reduce industrial waste processes through cleaner production technologies and 'good housekeeping' practices. The EcoRedesign project aims to redesign a number of household products from an environmental and total life cycle perspective. The Federal Government is also running a project demonstrating to industry the environmental and economic benefits of implementing cleaner processes.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Waste Management and Pollution Control (at Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and Perth) focuses on waste reduction and minimisation, sewerage and water quality, site remediation, instrumentation and monitoring, disposal of wastes from intensive rural industries, on-site treatment of liquid wastes, disposal of wastes as solids, odours and atmospheric emissions and social ecology. Research underway includes waste audit protocols and their application.

Status   

No information is available

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

No information is available

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing   

No information is available

Cooperation

Australia funds a number of projects with sanitation components through the development cooperation program including: UNICEF Water/Sanitation project in Malawi, Waste Management Technology in India, East Timor Water Supply and Sanitation project, Visayas Water and Sanitation in the Philippines, Tarawa Sanitation in Kiribati, South Pacific Sanitation project and the Wei Hai Sewerage Treatment Plant in China. These projects include elements of technology transfer, institutional strengthening and training.

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This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

Click here for the Waste Management Awareness Program.

Click here for the Australian Waste Database.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

No information is available

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

Australia signed the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal in 1989 and ratified it in February 1992.

The Australian Federal Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act, 1989, entered into force on 17 July 1990 to implement the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. The Federal Government amended this legislation, effective 12 December 1996, to fully implement its obligations under the Basel Convention. 

Australia is also subject to the OECD Council Decision, which is generally regarded as an Article 11 arrangement under the Basel Convention. Both the Basel Convention and the Council Decision set up notification and consent procedures to track the transboundary movement of hazardous waste. The Council Decision's procedures are simplified for movements between OECD countries of waste destined for recovery. The amended legislation will give effect to this decision under regulations to the Act.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

It is an offence under the amended Act to move hazardous waste internationally without the relevant permit. The maximum penalty applies to offences that are likely to result in injury or damage to human health or the environment and is $1 million for a body corporate or up to 5 years imprisonment for an individual. Lesser penalties apply to other offences. In addition, executive officers of corporations may be held liable if they are found to have been negligent

The Federal Government has a pollution avoidance approach to waste issues and is developing programs to promote this approach in preference to end-of-pipe solutions for disposing of waste. This cleaner production approach is seen as both reducing industry costs and protecting the environment. In encouraging a cleaner production approach, A strategy was developed in 1992 to manage three classes of scheduled wastes, there being polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene and organochlorine pesticides (OPCs). The PCB management plan has been finalised with the hexachlorobenzene plan near completion and the OCP management plan in a developmental stage. The development of the management plans has been built around an extensive public involvement program and has considered relevant socio-economic aspects.

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

Policy on hazardous waste and related issues has been developed in a highly consultative manner with input for environment and community groups, industry, unions, development cooperation groups and technical experts

Programmes and Projects   

Australia has been constrained by the difficulty in reaching numerous small-to-medium-sized businesses. Pollution avoidance programs are being pursued at Federal, State and local levels. These aim to foster cleaner production, to promote the redesign of products from an environmental, life cycle perspective, and to demonstrate to industry the environmental and economic advantages of minimising the production of waste and pollution. The Federal Government has conducted a series of cleaner production workshops.

Federal funding is assisting several companies to redesign individual products from an environmental as well as functional perspective. The Australian Chamber of Manufactures, under a grant from the Federal Government, is producing environmental management handbooks providing a self-assessment procedure for small industry and there are other industry sector specific manuals being produced under Federal funding. A cleaner production demonstration program is documenting economic and environmental gains including greenhouse gas reductions in several sectors. The results will be promoted widely throughout Australian industry. A Best Practice Environmental Management Program aims to encourage small and medium sized enterprises to use raw materials more efficiently, reduce solid and liquid waste discharges and increase recycling. This focuses upon assisting firms to reduce their running costs, increase production efficiency and to reduce the environmental impact of their activities.

Status   

No information is available

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

A system of National Hazardous Waste Management Guidelines has been developed. It involves a mechanism for prior notification, classification of hazardous wastes and transport documents and enables governments to collect information on the production of hazardous wastes. This information is incorporated in the Australian Waste Database. The Australian Government considers that being able to understand the waste stream is central to achieving waste reduction objectives. An important part of Environment Australia's role is to develop an accessible centralised collection of information on waste, which is critical for making informed decisions. To facilitate this, Environment Australia is: 

• developing the Australian Waste Database (AWD) to be used to set, and report on the achievement of national waste minimisation targets;

• developing a database to facilitate community and industry access to recycled materials and recyclers;

• undertaking a benchmarking study to improve knowledge of waste generation levels back to 1990; and

• coordinating the development of a national protocol for the collection and reporting of waste generation and landfill quantity data that will provide uniformity of waste management data.

A National Pollutant Inventory is being established to collect information on emissions and transfers of wastes and pollutants.

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing   

No information is available

Cooperation

While Australia signed the Regional Convention on Hazardous and Radioactive Waste (the Waigani Convention) on 16 September 1996, it is yet to become a party through the process of ratification. In accordance with Australian treaty-making practice, ratification can only be considered once the Convention has been given effect through domestic legislation.

Australia has assisted in facilitating workshops to discuss the establishment of Regional Centres in Beijing and Jakarta for the treatment of hazardous wastes in the Asian-Pacific Region. Australia held workshops in China and Thailand on cleaner production and environmental management systems in June 1996.

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This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

Click here for the Hazardous Waste Act and Regulations.

Click here for the Hazardous Waste Treatment Technologies Directory.

RADIOACTIVE WASTES

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies   

No information is available

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations 

The Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment Act (1986) prohibits the dumping into the sea and the incineration at sea of radioactive material.

The Commonwealth/State Consultative Committee on Management of Radioactive Waste provides an opportunity for Governments to review a range of radioactive waste management issues.  Safe storage, transportation and disposal of radioactive wastes is promoted in Australia through national codes of practice promulgated in State and Territory regulations. The Codes have been developed on a federal consultative basis and follow international standards and guidelines developed by the IAEA. The national Code of Practice on the Management of Radioactive Wastes from the Mining and Milling of Radioactive Ores (1982) is to be revised to take account of changes in international philosophies in this area.  

In 1995 a Senate Select Committee was established to inquire into and report on radioactive waste management issues in Australia. A Commonwealth study to identify a suitable site for a national near-surface repository for Australia's low level and short-lived intermediate level wastes recognised under IAEA guidelines as suitable for near-surface disposal, was suspended to take account of the Committee's findings. The Government is currently considering the Committee's report.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

No information is available

Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement

No information is available

Programmes and Projects 

In 1994 the Federal Government commenced a project to rehabilitate the former British nuclear test sites at Maralinga (South Australia). The Maralinga test sites include areas seriously contaminated with plutonium. Earth works required to bury surface contamination in engineered trenches commenced in June 1996 and will be completed in 1998. A further phase of the project involves stabilisation of plutonium contaminated burial pits using in-situ vitrification technology.  

Australia is involved in research and development of methods for the safe and environmentally sound treatment, processing and disposal of radioactive waste. Australia is a major participant in the Alligator Rivers Analogue Project, an aim of which is to develop and test models for radionuclide migration relevant to the assessment of the safety of radioactive waste repositories. The Australian Government is continuing to fund a program for monitoring the effectiveness of a rehabilitation project at the former Rum Jungle uranium site in the Northern Territory. The Rum Jungle mine site represents a unique case study in mine rehabilitation, and there is continuing international interest in the monitoring and maintenance at the site. The research has implications for management of wastes arising from the mining and milling of radioactive ores in Australia and overseas.

Status 

In early 1996 a shipment of spent fuel from the High Flux Australian Research reactor (HIFAR) was made to the UK Atomic Energy Authority's (AEA) Dounreay plant for reprocessing. The purpose of this shipment was to reduce spent fuel holdings at Lucas Heights, Sydney, consistent with Australia's non-proliferation objectives and to convert spent fuel to a waste form amenable to long-term management in Australia. The enriched uranium will also be recovered for re-use in fresh research reactor fuel, further contributing to resource and energy conservation.

Radioactive waste from reprocessing of HIFAR spent fuel will eventually be returned to Australia as a stable intermediate level waste form. Management options for this waste will be considered in the context of arrangements by the Federal and State Governments for management of Australia's other intermediate level radioactive wastes.

Challenges  

No information is available

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising   

No information is available

Information   

No information is available

Research and Technologies   

No information is available

Financing 

Australia set aside $A1.29 million in the 1996/97 budget for contribution to the Technical Assistance Cooperation Fund (TACF) of the IAEA for the 1997 calendar year.

Cooperation

Australia participates in negotiations to draw up an international Convention on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. The purpose of the proposed Convention is to encourage the safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive wastes world wide. Australia supports giving the IAEA Code of Practice on the Transboundary Movements of Radioactive Waste legally binding status under the proposed Convention. Australia is party to the London Convention (1992) and has ratified the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.

Australia signed the "Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region" (the Waigani Convention) in September 1995. Australia supports the Waigani Convention as an important initiative which seeks to prohibit the importation of hazardous and radioactive wastes into the Pacific Island Developing Countries; and to regulate and facilitate the environmentally sound management of wastes generated in the Convention Area.

Australia actively supports effort within the IAEA to introduce international radioactive waste safety standards, guidelines and codes of practice. Australia supports research and development into radioactive waste management by participating in activities undertaken by such organisations as the NEA and IAEA and in international forums on radioactive waste management.

* * * 

This information was provided by the Government of Australia to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997.

Click here for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

Click here for the Environmental Research Institute of Supervising Scientists (ERISS).

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