Wet Tropics of Queensland World
Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994

No. 32 of 1994

An Act relating to the conservation of the Wet Tropics
of Queensland World Heritage Area

[Assented to 15 March 1994]

Preamble

This preamble sets out considerations taken into account by the Parliament of Australia in enacting the law that follows.

Aboriginal people have occupied, used, and enjoyed land in the Area since time immemorial.

The Area is part of the cultural landscape of Rainforest Aboriginal peoples and is important spiritually, socially, historically and culturally to aboriginal people particularly concerned with the land.

It is, therefore, the intention of the Parliament to recognise a role for Aboriginal peoples particularly concerned with land and waters in the Area, and give Aboriginal peoples a role to play in its management.

The Parliament of Australia therefore enacts:

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994.

Commencement

2. This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Object of Act

3. The object of this Act is to give effect to an agreement made between the Commonwealth and Queensland on 16 November 1990 (a copy of which is set out in Schedule 1 to the Queensland Act) and to facilitate the implementation of Australia’s international duty for the protection, conservation, presentation, rehabilitation and transmission to future generations of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area.

Definitions

4. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

“Authority” means the Wet Tropics Management Authority established by section 6 of the Queensland Act;

“Queensland Act” means the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 of Queensland.

Nomination of members of the board of the Wet Tropics Management Authority

5. Nominations for the purposes of paragraph 14(b) of the Queensland Act may be made on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Minister.

Aboriginal representation on the Authority

6. The Minister must include among his or her nominees under section 5 one or more Aboriginal representatives who have appropriate knowledge of, and experience in, the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

Secondment of staff to Authority

7. The Minister may make arrangements for the services of:

(a) officers or employees of the Australian Public Service; or

(b) members of the staff of authorities of the Commonwealth;

to be made available to the Authority.

Aboriginal representation on advisory committees

8. The Minister must use his or her best endeavours, through consultation with the Authority, to ensure that any advisory committee established by the Authority under the Queensland Act includes among its members Aboriginal representatives who have appropriate knowledge of, and experience in, the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

Operation of World Heritage Properties Conservation Act

9. Nothing in this Act is intended to affect the operation of the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983.

Tabling of annual report of Authority

10.(1) In this section, “annual report” means a report given to the Commonwealth under section 63 of the Queensland Act.

(2) The Minister must cause a copy of an annual report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the report is given to the Commonwealth.

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

Senate on 16 December 1993

House of Representatives on 10 February 1994]