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53.
PRIME MINISTER 95/ 9
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON PJ. KEATING MP
AMBASSADOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Australia's first Ambassador for the Environment. Sir Ninian Stephen, is to retire
from the post.
Sir Ninian, who has been Ambassador for the Environment since July 1989,
recently informed the Government that his responsibilities as Chairman o. lStrand 2
of the Talks on Northern Ireland were now absorbing his time and capacities to
such an extent that he believed it was no longer practicable for him to continue to
hold the important post of Ambassador for the Environmcnt.
In 1991, the Government agreed to a joint request from the Governments of the UK
and of Ireland that Sir Ninian chair Strand 2 of the Northern Ireland Talks. In May
this year Sir Ninian was granted leave of absence from his duties as Ambassador
for the Environment for the duration of the Talks. In August Sir Ninian returned to
Australia for consultations and the Government accepted Sir Ninian's view that it
would be preferable for him to relinquish his role as Ambassador for the
Environmcnt and for new arrangements to be made, consistent with the high
importance the Government attaches to the environment.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to Sir Ninian's significant contribution as
Ambassador for the Environment. He said that Sir Ninian had carried out his
responsibilities with great distinction, both overseas and in Australia. Sir Ninian
had worked assiduously, consistent with the mandate given to him by the
Government, to promote, both within and beyond Australia, the Government's
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policies relating to matters affecting the global environment. He had represented
the Government in bilateral and multilateral conferences and negotiationq relating
to the global environment, including leading Australian delegations to the
preparatory conferences which preceded the June 1992 UN Conference on the
_ Environment and pcevel~ me~ it ( UNCED).
Sir Ninian believes and the Government agrees, that he has fulfilled his role as
Australia's first Ambassador for the Environment and it is now time to hand over to
others who are, and will continue to be, actively involved in the long and
dcmanding follow up to UNCED.
The Government has recommended the apj'ointmcnt of a senior career diplomat,
Ms Pennv Wensley, to succeed Sir Ninian.
Ms Wensley, who joined the then Department of External Affairs in 1 968, is
currcntly head of the Intcrnational Organisations and Legal Division of the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has spent the past two years working
on global environment issucs. She was leader of the Australian delegation to the
Inter-GovernmentalI Negotiating Committee ( INC) which negotiated the landmark
Framework Convention on Climate Change and participated in the Australian
delegation to the UNCED conference as Senior Forcign Affairs Adviser. Ms
Wensley is well known to community and business groups with an interest in
environment issues.
It is proposed that Ms Wensley be appointed as Australia's Ambassador and
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva in early 1993 where she
will be particularly well placed to carry out the principal functions of Ambassador
for the Environment of promoting Australia's policies on global environment issues
and representing the Government at international conferences and negotiations
relating to the environment, Many institutions and agencies handling thc rapidly
growing international agenda on the environment are based in or nLear Geneva and
a considerable proportion of the follow up work to UNCED will be handled by
Australia's Mission in Geneva.
Ms Wensley will return to Australia as appropriate to brief the Government and
interest groups on global environment developments.
The Prime Minister said that an important function carried out by Sir Ninian had
been that of liaison between the Commonwealth and non-governmental
organisations. The Government attached the highest importance to maintaining an
effective dialogue with intercst groups in this area, Accordingly, the Government
plans to establish new and enhanced formal arrangements for liaison with NGOs
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on international environment matters. These new consultative arrangements will
be determined on the basis of full discussion with all interested groups.
In announcing these changes, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government's
strong commitment to the environment. Hc said that Australia has established a
reputation internationally as a country committed to progressive and forwardlooking
environmental policies and ready to play its part in international efforts to
address environmental problems and concerns. The Ambassador for the
Environment has an important role to play in securing this image and in promoting
Australia's interests in ongoing international efforts to develop and implement
effective environment policies and strategies. The new consultative arrangements
will ensure the views of the community will be well represented.
Inquiries: Brett Bayly
Dept Foreign Affairs and Trade
( 06) 2613117
CANBERRA 3 September 1992 3. Sep. 92 17: 48 No. 031 P. 03/ 03