PRIME MINISTER.
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER, 1980
WORLD CONSERVATION STRATEGY
The Prime Minister, Mr. Malcolm Fraser, today announced the
Commonwealth Government's proposals in relation to World
Conservation Strategy. Mr. Fraser recalled that on 6 March, 1980
he had attended the national launching of the Strategy and had
accepted it on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.
The Strategy, which was jointly develo ped by the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature and National Resources
( IUCN), the United Nations-Environment Program ( UNEP), and
the World Wilf life Fund ( WWF), seeks to integrate conservation
and development " objectives. It will require increased
dialogue between conservationists and developers both groups,
in the past, have had misconceptions about priorities and
objectives which need to be reconciled.
The Strategy acknowledges that economic development and the use
of living resources are essential human activities and, further,
that conservation is essential if sustainable development is
to continue.
Mr. Fraser went on to say that the World Conservation Strategy
is only meaningful if the key words " Conservation" and
" Development" are clearly defined and understood.
Conservation may be defined as managing our natural resources
so that they may produce appropriate benefits to the present
generation while not jeopardising the needs of the future.
Development involves the application of resources to satisfy our
needs and to improve the quality of life. It must take
account of social and ecological factors as well as economic
realities.
Mr. Fraser said that the major recommendation of the World
Conservation Strategy is that a National Conservation Strategy
should be developed in each country. The Prime Minister said that
the Commonwealth had concluded a preliminary assessment of the
World Conservation Strategy and that the States and the Northern
Territory have agreed to collaborate with the Commonwealth in
utilising this document to develop a National Conservation
Strategy for Australia. / 2
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The Australian Strategy will be developed in two phases.
First, the World Strategy Objectives and Recommendations will'
be considered in the context of Australian conditions, allowing
for relevant existing and planned activities. Secondly, this
will give rise to a draft Australian strategy, developed in
consultation with State and Territory Governments taking into
account the views of the wider community including industry
and copservation bodies.
The Australian Strategy will form the basis for action plans and
priority measures for implementation by Governments and
non-government bodies.
Mr. Fraser noted that the examination of the World Conservation
Strategy had shown that it was, to a significant extent, already
being implemented in Australia. Mr. Fraser mentioned that
important achievements by the Governments in Australia-
Commonwealth, State and Local -include:
The establishment of protected areas to preserve unique
eco-systems and Species the States, the Northern
Territory and the Commonwealth have established
national Parks in their respective juridictions
* The environmental assessment techniqjue is widely
applied to major development projects to ensure that
environmental as well as economic factors are assessed
when proposals are heing considered
* Arrangements have bee * n agreed. between the Commonwealth
and the States to ensure that marine living resources
are managed effectively for example, the Commonwealth
and Queensland Governments have decided on co-operative
arrangements to conserve the Great Barrier Reef..
* The Commonwealth Government has enacted legislation to
protect whales and the flora and fauna of Antarctica.
* Australia is participating in " Bio-mass", an international
study of marine living resources in the Southern oceans.
* Both the Great Barrier Reef and the Kakadu National Park
have been nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List
Mr. Fraser concluded by noting that the World Conservation
Strategy is an important, timely and well balanced document.
He went on to say that while Australia's record in this field
is outstanding, the Strategy was a valuable document which
served to stimulate a more focussed approa * ch to the management
of living resources and to provide policy guidelines on how
this can be carried out by Governments, conservationists and
developers. Mr. Fraser said that he had been in contact with
the Premiers and with the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory,
all of whom had agreed to participate in the-development of a
National Conservation Strategy in Australia. ./ 3
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Mr. Fraser concluded by noting that he would be advising
the States and the Northern Territory of the results of the
Commonwealth's preliminary consideration of the World Strategy
and that he looked forward to further progress in
consultation with the States, industry and with the wider
community in implementing the strategy which will meet the
particular needs of Australia and Australians.
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