Particulars of Permissions Granted, Refused, Suspended, Reinstated, Revoked or Reconsidered on 31 March 2017 and not Previously Published

Overview

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 was enacted to address the need for comprehensive management and protection of the Great Barrier Reef, a site of immense ecological, economic, and cultural significance. The Act was introduced to tackle the problem of environmental degradation and unsustainable practices that threatened the reef's integrity. The Parliament of Australia, through this Act, established the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to oversee the administration and conservation of the reef. The overarching policy objective is to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem while balancing the interests of various stakeholders. The Act empowers the Authority to grant, refuse, suspend, reinstate, or revoke permits, ensuring that activities within the Marine Park are conducted in a manner that minimises environmental impact and promotes conservation.

Scope and Application

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 applies to the management and protection of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which is a Commonwealth authority established for that purpose. The Act regulates the activities of individuals, organisations, and entities within the designated marine park area, with a primary focus on conservation and sustainable use of the reef ecosystem. It applies to all persons and entities engaging in activities that may impact the marine environment, including tourism operators, researchers, fishers, and other stakeholders. The Act's jurisdictional reach is national, as it is a Commonwealth Act, and it extends to the waters and land within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, including the three zones: General Use, Habitat Protection, and Marine National Park. The Act also establishes various permits and regulations to control and manage activities within the Park, ensuring that they do not harm the ecological integrity of the reef. Subordinate legislation, such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations, further defines and restricts application of the Act through detailed rules and guidelines.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislation (sections 1 and 2) detail the specific permissions granted, refused, suspended, reinstated, revoked, or reconsidered by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as of 31 March 2017. Section 1 outlines the particulars of permissions, including permits granted or refused, and section 2 provides details of the permits themselves, including permit numbers, valid dates, relevant sections, and permit types. This section serves to inform the public of the Authority's decisions and actions concerning permits within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Act imposes various obligations and requirements on the parties or entities it governs. For instance, the Authority must provide a written statement of reasons for their decisions (section 3), and the Authority will undertake an internal review of the decision if a person affected by the decision makes an application within 21 days of the date of publication of details of the decision in the Commonwealth Gazette (section 4). Additionally, the Authority must comply with the review procedures and rights outlined in the legislation, such as allowing for an internal review of decisions and the potential for those decisions to be upheld or changed by the reviewing person (section 3). Failure to comply with the requirements and obligations set out in the Act may result in civil or criminal consequences. Although specific penalties are not mentioned in the text, breaches of the Act may lead to legal action being taken against the parties or entities involved. The severity of the penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, as well as any relevant case law or precedents. It is important for the parties and entities governed by the Act to be aware of their obligations and requirements to avoid any potential consequences.