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Publications
Commonwealth of Australia, May 1995
| Legislation | Lead agency | Objectives | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 | ATSIC | To preserve and protect places, areas and objects of particular significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | The legislation complements existing State and Territory laws and is intended to be used only as a last resort where those laws are considered not to provide significant protection or where there is unwillingness to invoke these laws |
| Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986 | ATSIC | Granted an area of land at Jervis Bay to the Wreck Bay community and established a council and administrative arrangements to manage the area. The Act also makes provisions for mining, protection of the environment and protection of significant sites | |
| Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 | ATSIC | To make provision for traditional Aboriginal owners to gain inalienable freehold title to unalienated crown land in the Northern Territo ry and to exercise control over mining and other activities on their land | The Act provides for the establishment of Aboriginal land councils to assist in the management of Aboriginal land and to protect the interests of traditional landowners |
| Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 | Transport–AMSA | Establishes AMSA to combat pollution in the marine environment, to provide search and rescue services, to provide services to the maritime industry, and to provide services relating to Australia's international maritime obligations | |
| Antarctic Marine Living Resources Conservation Act 1981 | DEST | To give effect to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources | |
| Antarctic Treaty Act 1960 | DEST | To give effect to the Antarctic Treaty | |
| Antarctic Treaty (Environmental Protection) Act 1980 | DEST | Provides for the protection of Antarctic wildlife and for the protection of areas of outstanding ecological and scientific importance | This Act gives effect to the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Flora and Fauna and the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Seals 1972. Further amendments, which commenced in June 1993, give effect to recommendations on environmental protection measures agreed at Antarctic Consultative Meeting and to much of the Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection |
| Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933 | DEST | Allows for the government of the Territory | |
| Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975 | AHC | Established AHC to identify the National Estate for present and future generations and to assist in its conservation and presentation | Requires Commonwealth Ministers and agencies to take into account effects on National Estate places of any proposed actions for which they have a decision-making role |
| Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1972 | AIMS | Established the Australian Institute of Marine Science to carry out research in marine science | |
| Australian Tourist Commission Act 1987 | Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) | The ATC’s prime task is to market Australia internationally as a tourist destination | |
| Biological Control Act 1984 | Joint AQIS/ANCA | To maximise community benefit when making decisions about the use of biological control agents through close inter-agency cooperation | AQIS works in Australia. Arrangements exist to facilitate inter-agency, Commonwealth–State and community co-operation |
| Christmas Island Act 1958 | DEST | Allows for the government of the Territory | |
| Coastal Waters (State Powers) Act 1980 and Coastal Waters (Northern Territory Powers) Act 1980 | Attorney-General's | To extend the legislative powers of the States and of the Northern Territory in and in relation to coastal waters | Part of the offshore Constitutional Settlement |
| Coastal Waters (State Title) Act 1980 and Coastal Waters (Northern Territory Title) Act 1980 | Attorney-General's | To grant the States and the Northern Territory title to the seabed of coastal waters | Part of the offshore Constitutional Settlement |
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 | DEST | Act allows for the government of the Territory. | |
| Control of Naval Waters Act | Defence | To regulate activities such as the mooring or anchoring of vessels within naval waters so as to ensure proper protection of naval vessels and establishments and property of the Commonwealth. To control the movement of dangerous cargoes through naval waters | Regulations promulgated under the Act apply to areas that have been defined as naval waters, including the sea bed up to and including the high-water mark |
| Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 | DEST | Allows for the government of the Territory | |
| Defence Act 1903 and Regulations | Defence | To declare areas where defence operations or practice may be carried out and to enable the Minister to promulgate by-laws to control use of such areas | Regulations under the Act can be applied to natural area management and public access to defence land |
| Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 | ANCA | Provides the legislative basis for Commonwealth responsibilities with regard to the conservation of endangered species and communities and the amelioration of the processes that threaten them. Eight marine species listed | Entry into force 30 April 1993 |
| Environment (Financial Assistance) Act 1977 | DEST | Provides for financial assistance to be granted to the States for environmental planning | |
| Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 | DEST | To ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that matters requiring Commonwealth decision making and with the potential to affect the environment to a significant effect are fully examined and taken into account | Commonwealth proposals or decisions with potential environmental impact to be referred to DEST by the Action Minister or agency |
| Environment Protection (Nuclear Codes) Act 1978 | DEST | Makes provision for protecting the health and safety of the Australian people and environment from possible harmful effects associated with nuclear activities in Australia | |
| Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 | DEST | To control dumping from ships, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures in Australian waters and from Australian ships/aircraft in any sea Convention on the | Gives effect to Australia’s obligations under the International Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Dumping Convention) |
| Fisheries Management Act 1991 and Fisheries Administration Act 1991 | AFMA | To implement efficient and cost-effective fisheries management, to ensure that fisheries activities are conducted according to the principles of ecologically sustainable development, and to maximise economic efficiency in exploitation of fisheries | All fisheries management plans are now prepared under this Act |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 | GBRMPA | To provide for protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef in perpetuity through the Authority care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park | Act established the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment Act 1991 | To provide for compulsory pilotage for all vessels carrying oil or toxic chemicals as a cargo and for other large vessels navigating within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park | ||
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Environmental Management Charge) Act 1993 | GBRMPA | Imposes a change on the grant or transfer of certain permissions under the GBRMP Regulations and section 39 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act | |
| Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953 | DEST | Provides for the government of the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
| Environment Protection and Management Ordinance 1987 | DEST | Provides for the protection and management of the environment and wildlife of the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
| Income Assessment Act 1936 | Australian Taxation Office: Commissioner for Taxation | Tax incentives are available where primary producers incur expenditure on a variety of conservation measures, including prevention of soil erosion | |
| Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 | DIR (Worksafe Australia) Warwick Pearse (02) 565 9458 | To establish a national system of notification and assessment of industrial chemicals, and for related purposes | |
| Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915 | DEST | Allows for the government of the Territory | |
| Lands Acquisition Act 1989 | DAS | Provides for acquisition, leasing and disposal of Commonwealth lands | |
| Meteorology Act 1955 | Bureau of Meteorology | Provision of meteorological services to navigation and shipping | |
| National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 | ANCA | To protect and conserve nature conservation values of the Australian natural environment and wildlife, to increase knowledge, appreciation of and access to Australian biota, and to enhance awareness of and access to the natural environment | Provides for the establishment of parks and reserves, including marine parks and reserves in Commonwealth waters to the edge of the continental shelf |
| National Water Resources (Financial Assistance) Act 1978 | DPIE | Provides for financial assistance to be given to States for projects with the purpose of conservation of water resources or water environment, management of water quality, distribution or reticulation of water, drainage and desalination of agricultural land or mitigation of flooding | |
| Native Title Act 1993 | ATSIC | To provide for the recognition and protection of native title, to establish ways in which future dealings affecting native title may proceed and to set standards for those dealings, to establish a mechanism for determining claims to native title, and to provide for, or permit, the validation of past Acts invalidated because of the existence of native title | |
| Natural Resources Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992 | DPIE | Provides funding to facilitate the development and implementation of integrated approaches to natural resources management in Australia to achieve efficient, sustainable and equitable management of natural resources in Australia that is consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development | Promotes community, industry and government participation in natural resources management, assists in enhancing long-term productivity of natural resources, and assists in the resolution of conflicts over access to natural resources |
| Navigation Act 1912 | Transport–AMSA | ||
| Navigation (Protection of the Sea) Amendment Act 1983 | Transport–AMSA | Regulates the construction, size and location of oil cargo tanks in tankers in accordance with the requirements of the 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships | |
| Norfolk Island Act 1979 | DEST | Allows for the government of the Territory | |
| Offshore Minerals Act 1994 | DPIE | Sets up a licensing system for mining and exploration in particular offshore areas, and applies State laws to those offshore areas so far as those laws concern mining and exploration activities | |
| Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 | DPIE | To permit, under government supervision, the exploration for and production of petroleum within offshore areas under Commonwealth jurisdiction | Establishes an offshore regime for the exploration and development of petroleum resources |
| Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 | DCA | Provides for the protection of Australia’s heritage of important movable cultural objects by export controls and extends protection to the cultural heritage of other countries through import controls | |
| Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability) Act 1981 | Transport–AMSA | The owner of a ship is liable for any pollution damage caused by oil that escapes or is discharged from that ship | Implements Civil Liability Convention |
| Protection of the Sea (Oil Pollution Convention Fund) Act 1993 | Transport–AMSA | The 1971 fund established under the Convention on Oil Pollution Damage is liable to provide compensation and indemnification for certain oil pollution damage. Certain persons who receive oil in Australian ports and terminals are liable to contribute to the fund | |
| Protection of the Sea (Powers of Intervention) Act 1981 | Transport–AMSA | Authorises the Commonwealth to take measures to protect the sea from pollution by oil and other noxious substances discharged from ships | Implements Intervention Convention |
| Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 | Transport–AMSA | Protects the sea from pollution by oil and other harmful substances discharged from ships | Implements MARPOL Convention |
| Quarantine Act 1908 | DHSH–human health AQIS (DPIE)–agriculture | Prevention of the introduction or spread of exotic diseases or pests affecting humans, animals or plants | |
| Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 | Attorney-General's | Provides for establishing the baseline and breadth of the territorial sea and the declaration of the continental shelf. It also asserts Australia’s sovereignty over the territorial sea and sovereign rights over the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone | Implements maritime zones under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea |
| Sea Installations Act 1987 and Sea Installations Amendment Act 1987 | DEST | To extend Australian law to installations outside the territorial sea | |
| Sea Installations Levy Act 1987 (The Sea Installations Act 1987 is incorporated and shall be read as one, with this Act) | DEST | To provide for a levy to be paid to the Commonwealth by a permit holder in relation to the operation of a sea installation | |
| Soil Conservation (Financial Assistance) Act 1985 | DPIE | To grant financial assistance in connection with projects | |
| States Grants (Nature Conservation) Act 1974 | DEST | Provides for financial assistance to the States for purposes connected with nature conservation | |
| Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974 | DEST | Provides for financial assistance to the States for purposes connected with urban and regional development | |
| Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994 | DEST | In conjunction with relevant Queensland legislation, provide for joint management of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area | |
| Whale Protection Act 1980 | ANCA | Provides for the preservation, conservation and protection of whales and other cetacea in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone | Provides protection to all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) |
| Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports)Act 1982 | ANCA | To regulate the export and import of many species of animals and plants, including sea shells, clams, sea-weed and most marine invertebrates | Regulates and controls the export of animals and plants that are or may become endangered by trade, and Australian native wildlife |
| World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983 | DEST | To provide for protection and conservation of properties in Australia inscribed or listed for inscription on the World Heritage List | Authorises the Commonwealth to prevent damage or destruction of a property through prohibition of certain acts. Does not automatically control activities on properties with World Heritage value |
| AFMA | Australian Fisheries Management Agency | DAS | Department of Administrative Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHC | Australian Heritage Commission | DCA | Department of Communication and the Arts |
| AIMS | Australian Institute of Marine Science | DEST | Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories |
| AMSA | Australian Maritime Safety Authority | DFAT | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| ANCA | Australian Nature Conservation Agency | DHSH | Department of Health Services and Human |
| AQIS | Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service | DIR | Department of Industrial Relations |
| ATC | Australian Tourist Commission | DPIE | Department of Primary Industries and Energy |
| ATSIC | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission | GBRMPA | Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority |