710
PRIME MINISTER
EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
LAUNCH OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION KIT
" WILDERNESS: THE ORIGINAL AND THE
BEST OF PLANET EARTH"
MELBOURNE 14 DECEMBER 1987
It is my pleasure today to launch the Wilderness Society's
first environmental education kit entitled " Wilderness: The
original and the Best of Planet Earth".
it is particularly appropriate that we launch this project
today, the anniversary of the World Heritage Listing of the
South West Tasmanian wilderness.
That area owes its protection in considerable measure to the
work of the Wilderness Society work which my Gov ernment
was very pleased to cap off in thle early days after our
election in 1983 with the decision to stop the dammjing of
the Frankl. in-
Thue Wilderness Society has been at the forefront of the
conservation movement since its formation as thle " Tasmainian
Wilderness Society" at Bob Brown's house in 1976.
Australia has a special responsibility to follow wise
environmental policies, since we have the good fortune
indeed, the privilege of living in a continent of
unsurpassed environmental magnificence. This education kit
highlights that fact. vividly.
Over the 200 years ofS Ftropean settlement Australia has seen
the degradation and outright loss of some imnportant
environmental areas.
In more recent years however there has beeni a Vrowing
awareness of the need for a more balanced approach to
development, for proper environmental planning and for the
protection of valuable areas of Australia's natural
heritage. The Wilderness Society can claim the ctedit ( or encouraging
this awareness and for ensur. ing that Governments, businesses
and the wider community retain a sense of the importance to
all of us of our natural heritage. 0 0 13 12
The kit you have produced is another example of your
capacity to spread the word about our natural treasures.
For its part the Government sees as a key issue the
protection of environmentally significant areas for the
benefit of present and future generations of Australians
while, at the same time, ensuring Australia's economic
future. In determining our policies we have sought to
achieve an appropriate and sensible balance between
legitimate competing interests.
Let me briefly mention two areas with which we are concerned
at present which will further advance the cause of
environmental protection.
Last week the World Heritage Committee formally accepted
Kakadu Stage 2 for World Heritage Listing. This will
consolidate the area of Stage 1 that was included on the
list in 1981. As you know the listing of Stage 2 only
followed protracted but successful action by this Government
in the courts.
Last Friday, the Minister for the Environment and the Arts,
Senator Richardson, announced the Government's decision to
nominate for World Heritage listing the Wet Tropics of
North-East Queensland, including the magnificent Daintree
Rainforest which I visited earlier this year. The
nomination will be submitted shortly and be considered by
the World Heritage Committee late next year.
In launching the kit I am particularly gratified to note the
support the Wilderness Society has received from the Myer
Foundation a fine example of co-operation in the interests
of the wider community.
The kit has been developed for use by secondary school
teachers and students with the aim of encouraging students
to think critically about environmental issues, particularly
by having them consider the values and choices that are
inherent in any land use debate.
The colour prints and 90 slides contained in the kit are, as
we shall see shortly, outstanding. They offer glimpses of
scenes that should inspire anyone to make the effort to
visit the real thing. The high quality printing and
presentation is most impressive. I can recommend this kit
to all educational institutions.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to launch
" Wilderness: The Original and the Best of Planet Earth." 003426;