World Heritage Nomination

388 The Hon. T.A. FRANKS ().28 August 2024). Can the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water advise—what has the government done to date to progress the World Heritage nomination of Billie Mocalba/The Great Australian Bight?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Climate, Environment and Water has advised:

The South Australian government's support of World Heritage for the Great Australian Bight was first communicated to the Australian government in 2022. Only the Australian government can submit a world heritage nomination.

The Department for Environment and Water was asked to commission an independent review of the world heritage criteria which could be applied to the Great Australian Bight. This review found that there are potential world heritage values which could be further investigated, for both cultural and natural values.

South Australia cannot nominate alone. A nomination process would also require the support and participation of the Australian government and Western Australian government, as the potential World Heritage values on land and sea are located across all three jurisdictions. Discussions are continuing with a view to determining whether a cross-jurisdictional nomination can be progressed and South Australia has repeatedly communicated its support to the Australian government.