[Australia]: Department of the Environment Media Centre

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Overview​

The Department of the Environment is the Australian Government ministry charged with responsibility for developing and implementing national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage. The stated aims of the department are to achieve the protection and conservation of the environment; to ensure that Australia benefits from meteorological and related sciences and services; and to see that Australia's interests in Antarctica are advanced. The portfolio also includes government agencies such as the Australian Antarctic Division, Parks Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Climate Change Authority. It also includes various councils, offices and trusts such as the Australian Heritage Council, the National Environment Protection Council, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, the Natural Heritage Trust, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and the Inspector-General of Water Compliance. The functions of the department are broadly classified into the following matters as laid out in an Administrative Arrangements Order: The Great Barrier Reef Environment protection and conservation of biodiversity Air quality National fuel quality standards Land contamination Meteorology Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory, and the Territory of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Natural, built and cultural heritage Environmental information and research Ionospheric prediction Co-ordination of sustainable communities policy Population policy Urban environment Development and co-ordination of domestic climate change policy Renewable energy target policy, regulation and co-ordination Greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting Climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination Co-ordination of climate change science activities Renewable energy Greenhouse gas abatement programs Community and household climate action Water policy and resources

 

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COMMENCEMENT OF SEVEN NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION MEASURES​

30 November 2006

The federal, state and territory Environment Ministers have met under the auspices of the National Environment Protection Council to establish, for the first time, seven National Environment Protection Measures done under the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994. It is hoped that the measures will improve the overall environmental quality and health in Australia if they are implemented effectively by the federal and state & territory governments. The measures are outlined in the table below:

National Environment Protection Measure:	Date Commenced:	Goal:	Desired Environmental Outcomes:
Air Toxics	30 November 2006	To improve the information base regarding ambient air toxics with the Australian environment in order to facilitate the development of standards.	To facilitate management of air toxics in ambient air that will allow for the equivalent protection of human health and well being by: Providing for the generation of comparable, reliable information on the levels of toxic air pollutants at sites where significant elevated concentration of one or more of these air toxics are likely to occur (Stage 1 sites) and where the potential for significant population exposure to air toxics exists (Stage 2 sites). Establishing a consistent approach to the identification of such sites for use by jurisdictions. Establishing a consistent frame of reference (‘monitoring investigation levels’-MILs) for use by jurisdictions in assessing the likely significance of levels of air toxics measured at Stage 2 sites. Adopting a nationally consistent approach to monitoring air toxics at a range of locations (eg: near major industrial sites, major roads, areas affected by wood smoke).
Ambient Air Quality	30 November 2006	To achieve National Environment Protection Standards as assessed in accordance with (set) monitoring protocol.	Ambient air quality that allows for the adequate protection of human health and well-being.
Assessment of Site Contamination	30 November 2006	To establish a nationally consistent approach to the assessment of site contamination to ensure sound environmental management practices by the community which includes regulators, site assessors, environmental auditors, landowners, developers and industry.	To provide adequate protection of human health and the environment, where site contamination has occurred, through the development of an efficient and effective national approach to the assessment of site contamination.
Diesel Vehicle Emissions	30 November 2006	To reduce exhaust emissions from diesel vehicles, by facilitating compliance with in-service emissions standards fro diesel vehicles.	To reduce pollution from in-service diesel vehicles.
Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories	30 November 2006	To assist in achieving the desired environmental outcomes by providing a basis for ensuring that controlled wastes which are to be moved between States and Territories are properly identified, transported, and otherwise handled in ways which are consistent with environmentally-sound practices for the management of these wastes.	To minimise the potential for adverse impacts associated with the movement of controlled waste on the environment and human health.
National Pollutant Inventory	30 November 2006	1. To collect a broad base of information on emissions and transfers of substances on the reporting list, and 2. To disseminate the information collected to all sectors of the community in a useful, accessible and understandable form.	the maintenance and improvement of: ambient air quality; and ambient marine, estuarine and fresh water quality; the minimisation of environmental impacts associated with hazardous wastes; and an improvement in the sustainable use of resources.
Used Packaging	30 November 2006	To reduce environmental degradation arising from the disposal of used packaging and conserve virgin materials through the encouragement of re-use and recycling of used packaging materials by supporting and complementing the voluntary strategies in the Australian Packaging Covenant.	To minimise the overall environmental impacts of packaging by pursuing the Covenant performance goals: Design: optimise packaging to use resources efficiently and reduce environmental impact without compromising product quality and safety. Recycling: efficiently collect and recycle packaging. Product Stewardship: demonstrate commitment by all signatories.

 

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ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIST OF OVERSEAS PLACES OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE TO AUSTRALIA​

30 November 2006

Today the Australian Heritage Council has made the decision to establish a "List of Overseas Places of Historic Significance to Australia" as a list of sites outside Australian jurisdiction deemed to be of outstanding historic significance to Australia. The Minister has approved of this listing to work alongside the already existing heritage lists of the National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritage List. The Minister has given approval for six sites to be the inaugural sites added to the list. Two are in the United Kingdom and one each for Turkey, France, Papua New Guinea and Swedish Antarctica. The sites are listed in the table below:

Place:	Country:	Date Listed:	Coordinates:	Image:
Anzac Cove, Gallipoli	Turkey	30 November 2006	40°14′46″N 26°16′40″E
Kokoda Track	Papua New Guinea	30 November 2006	8°52′39.95″S 147°44′14.99″E
Howard Florey's Laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology	United Kingdom	30 November 2006	51°45′34″N 1°15′05″W
Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux	France	30 November 2006	49°53′12.76″N 02°30′45.97″E
High Commission of Australia, London	United Kingdom	30 November 2006	51°30′46.4″N 0°6′56.6″W
Mawson's Huts	Antarctica	30 November 2006	67°00′31.6″S 142°39′39.7″E