PM Transcripts

RI-MAEU TLIA NISTER
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 22 DECEMBER 1988
The Government has formally nominated about 262,000 hectares
of South West Tasmania for World Heritage Listing. The
nomination adds to the existing World Heritage site some
per cent of the Lemonthyme and Southern Forests inquiry
area, together with the Walls of Jerusalem National Park and
the Central Plateau Conservation Area.
The combined area, to be known as the Tasmanian World
Heritage area, will exceed one million hectares. This is
equivalent to one-seventh of the land mass of Tasmania.
The nomination is fully supported by the Tasmanian
Government. Premier Gray has signed a letter with me,
jointly transmitting the nomination to the World Heritage
Committee. Achieving the agreement of the State Government to joint
nomination provides an additional measure of protection for
the areas.
The new areas nominated contain large pristine tall forest
ecosystems, together with superlative examples of
wilderness, rainforest, alpine ecosystems and glacial
landscapes. They also contain rare and endangered species
and a number of sites of major Aboriginal cultural
significance. This is a landmark decision in the conservation of
Australia's unique and fragile natural heritage. It follows
my Government's successful nomination to the World Heritage
List of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, the New South Wales
Rainforests, Uluru and Stage II of Kakadu National Park.
Australia has done more than any other country for the
conservation of nature through the World Heritage
Convention, as acknowledged recently by the World Heritage
advisory body.
I / 1477