Standing Committee on Environment, Communications & the Arts

Senator SIEWERT-Okay. Could you tell me whether the federal government has a copy of the Gaffney and Cline report to the northern development task force?
Mr Burnett-I do not know the answer to that question, Senator.
Senator SIEWERT-Is it possible for someone to check for me, and if you have it can you table it?
Mr Burnett-I can take that on notice.
Senator IAN MACDONALD-How old is the task force?
Senator SIEWERT-It is very new.
Senator Wong-I think the question has been taken on notice. Sorry, is the question in relation to the northern Australia task force?
Senator SIEWERT-Sorry, not your Northern Australia task force; the Western Australian Northern Task Force. There are a number of Northern Australian task forces.
Senator Wong-It is a popular name.
Senator SIEWERT-Yes. It is not the water one. You know what I am talking about, though, do you not?
Mr Burnett-I have not heard the name of that report before, Senator.
Senator SIEWERT-Okay. Can I suggest that if you do not have it you try to get a copy. That would be appreciated. I think the rest of the questions I have on the Kimberley related to that report. Are you aware that the Burrup may be being considered as an alternative site for a pub in the Kimberley?
Mr Burnett-I am aware, Senator, that the strategic assessment of the Kimberley is required to consider all options which would include options outside of the Kimberley region itself.
Senator SIEWERT-Okay. So I can take it that that is a yes?
Mr Burnett-It is not quite exactly the words that you put.
Senator SIEWERT-It is almost. I am just double-checking because some of the other questions I had on that particular issue related to whether you had a copy of the report. I wanted to know what was in it. Can I move on to the Burrup. What is the federal government doing other than fines to stop the vandalism on the Burrup in or outside the national heritage listed areas of the Dampier Archipelago?
Mr Shevlin-In relation to the national heritage listed area, of course if there are activities that occur contrary to the legislation then action can be taken. For actions outside the national heritage listed area, that falls under the Western Australian government legislation.
Senator SIEWERT-What are you doing for activities inside heritage listed areas?
Mr Burnett-Can you just excuse me for a second, Senator? I was just checking to see whether we had any information here. We have a compliance branch that looks after and responds to any complaints or information that is received of potential offences against the EPBC Act, but we do not have any information here in relation to any allegations of unlawful activity in relation to the rock art.
Senator SIEWERT-So the state government has not forwarded you any of the latest material on-
Mr Burnett-Not to my knowledge, Senator. That does not mean there has not been some contact; it just means that I am not personally aware of it.
Senator SIEWERT-Maybe you can take it on notice, then, and let us know if there has been.
Mr Burnett-Just to clarify, the question is whether the Western Australian government has brought to our attention any incidents relating to defacing or damaging the rock art?
Senator SIEWERT-Yes. Can we expand that to the state government or community members?
Mr Burnett-Yes.
Mr Shevlin-Senator, can I just add to that. Importantly, Western Australian legislation is the first port of call if there is any defacement or whatever. The EPBC Act only comes into play if there is significant impact. So the first place and the appropriate place for it to go would be for the Western Australian government to deal with it. They would not necessarily bring it to our attention if they are actually dealing with it.
Senator SIEWERT-What would you do if there was a significant level?
Mr Burnett-That would trigger our compliance functions, Senator. If we received information that
suggested there was damage occurring that was resulting in a significant impact, then that is a potential offence under the act and we would investigate.
Senator SIEWERT-Are you aware of the Methanex methanol plant proposal for the Burrup?
Mr Burnett-The Methanex proposal?
Senator SIEWERT-Yes, the new one-
Mr Burnett-There was one some years ago.
Senator SIEWERT-No, this is a brand-new one next to the fertiliser plant.
Mr Burnett-No, I am only aware of a mooted explosives plant-I am told that it has been brought to our attention, Senator.
Senator SIEWERT-Thank you. I have heard that the development is developing an indicative list for World Heritage listing; is that correct?
Mr Shevlin-No, it is a tentative list. It is a mechanism under the World Heritage convention where all countries are encouraged to submit a tentative list of those sites that they might in the future be nominating for World Heritage listing. So the Australian government is currently working in consultation with the state governments to develop possible sites for inclusion in a tentative list. We have had discussions with all of the states and we are waiting for them to come back to us with their suggestions for what should be included in that tentative list. That tentative list is not binding but it will give an indication of the sorts of places that we might be bringing forward over the next decade or more.
Senator SIEWERT-Is that going to be publicly available once it is developed?
Mr Shevlin-Yes. It would be lodged publicly anyway.
Senator SIEWERT-So it is lodged in a public process through the convention?
Mr Shevlin-Yes.