Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994
Act No. 32 of 1994 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 16 July 2000
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 146 of 1999
The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting,
Attorney‑General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
1............ Short title [see Note 1]........................................................................ 1
2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 1
3............ Object of Act....................................................................................... 1
4............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 2
5............ Nomination of members of the board of the Wet Tropics Management Authority 2
6............ Aboriginal representation on the Authority......................................... 2
7............ Secondment of staff to Authority........................................................ 2
8............ Aboriginal representation on advisory committees.............................. 2
9............ This Act does not affect the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 3
10.......... Tabling of annual report of Authority................................................. 3
Notes 5
An Act relating to the conservation of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area
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:
1 Short title [see Note 1]
This Act may be cited as the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994.
2 Commencement [see Note 1]
This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
3 Object of Act
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), as amended from time to time, 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.
4 Definitions
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.
5 Nomination of members of the board of the Wet Tropics Management Authority
Nominations for the purposes of paragraph 14(b) of the Queensland Act may be made on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Minister.
6 Aboriginal representation on the Authority
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.
7 Secondment of staff to Authority
The Minister may make arrangements for the services of:
(a) persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999; or
(b) members of the staff of authorities of the Commonwealth;
to be made available to the Authority.
8 Aboriginal representation on advisory committees
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.
9 This Act does not affect the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
This Act does not affect the operation of:
(a) the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; or
(b) the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983, so far as it continues to apply to parts of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area because of Part 2 of Schedule 6 to the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999.
10 Tabling of annual report of Authority
(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.
(a) Section 2(4) of the Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1997 provides as follows:
(4) Item 60 of Schedule 1 is taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994.
The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994 came into operation on 15 March 1994.
(b) The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994 was amended by Schedule 6 (item 9) only of the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:
(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences when the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 commences.
(c) The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 979) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:
(1) In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.
(2) Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.