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

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The process requires the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to report quarterly to the World Heritage Centre on proposed developments that are determined under section 12 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as likely to have a significant impact on the world heritage values of any of Australia's world heritage properties. The first of these reports was provided to the World Heritage Centre in October 2011, with quarterly reports to be provided thereafter as required.

(2)   (a) Yes, the process requires proposals to be notified at the assessment stage of the process and prior to any approval decisions.

  (b) Yes.