|
Administration
of the Australian Antarctic Territory and the sub-Antarctic territory of
Heard and McDonald Islands is the responsibility of the Australian
Antarctic Division, within the Commonwealth portfolio of Environment and
Heritage. Australia’s international obligations in relation to use and
protection of the Antarctic Environment are defined under several
international agreements (Antarctic Treaty 1959, Protocol to the Antarctic
Treaty on Environmental Protection (Madrid Protocol) 1991, Agreed Measures
for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora, Convention on the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources 1980 (CCAMLR); see Table
8.1). Other relevant Commonwealth Acts, apart from those establishing
Australia’s obligations under international agreements, include the
Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933, Australian Antarctic
Territory Act 1954, and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953. Bönner
(1990) provides an overview of international agreements and how they
relate to conservation in the Antarctic.
|
|
