Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to incorporate an answer to a question taken on notice from Senator Bob Brown on 7 February this year concerning protection of the Tasmanian wilderness heritage.

Leave granted.

The answer read as follows—

Response:

Australia's State Party report update on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area, which was prepared in consultation with Tasmania, was provided to the World Heritage Committee on 1 Feb 2012. The report was prepared in response to a request, from the World Heritage Committee at their 2010 meeting, to submit an updated report on the state of conservation to be considered at their meeting in 2012.

The wording in the Australian Government's State Party Report to the World Heritage Committee which states that 'significant iconic areas adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area will be given interim protection from logging activities ...' is correct. Significant parts of these iconic areas pave been given interim protection under the legally binding Conservation Agreement I signed with the Tasmanian Government and Forestry Tasmania on 13 January 2012.

The Independent Verification Group will assess and provide advice on the high conservation values areas within the 572,000 ha, nominated by the environment non-government organisations, that are compatible with wood supply guarantees.

The areas being assessed are located across Tasmania, and do include areas adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. As a result of the agreement with the Tasmanian Government and the work of the Independent Verification Group the report to the World Heritage Committee states that: The findings of the Independent Verification Group will contribute to any assessments of World Heritage values and possible future boundary modifications."