Reports & Submissions

Aboriginal Fishing Strategy

Public comment is invited on a draft Aboriginal fishing strategy addressing the recognition and inclusion of customary fishing in fisheries legislation; the recognition and inclusion of Aboriginal people in the management of fish resources; and economic development opportunities in the fishing and aquaculture industries.

The submissions period closes August 29.

The Western Australian Aboriginal Native Title Working Group will receive funding from the Development and Better Interest Fund to develop its response to the draft strategy.

Copies of the draft are available from www.fish.wa.gov.au, and from (08) 9482 7333.

Busselton wetlands

The public submissions period for a draft conservation strategy for the Busselton wetlands has been extended by four weeks, until July 4.

The strategy is available from www.planning.wa.gov.au, the Western Australian Planning Commission in Bunbury, the Department of Conservation and Land Management in Busselton, and the GeoCatch Network Centre in Busselton.

Comment can be sent to corporate@planning.wa.gov.au, or to The Secretary, Western Australian Planning Commission, 469 Wellington Street, Perth WA 6000, and marked ‘Attention: Shane Kirk’.

Human genetic information

An Australian Law Reform Commission and Australian Health Ethics Committee report, Essentially Yours: The Protection of Human Genetic Information in Australia, has been tabled in Federal Parliament following a two-year inquiry into the protection of human genetic information.

This report contains 144 recommendations on areas including privacy, unfair discrimination in employment and insurance, the use of genetic information (for example in forensic investigations or parentage testing) and ethical standards in research and practice.

The report is available from www.alrc.gov.au.

Kimberley Economic Perspective

This statistical summary reveals four industry sectors - mining, retail, tourism and pearling - have continued to drive economic growth in the Kimberley over the past two years.

The summary booklet reports 28 million carats of diamonds were produced in 2001-02.

This production was worth $489 million, equivalent to 74 per cent of the value of Kimberley mineral production.

Pearl and pearl oyster shell production in 2001-02 was worth $150 million.

In 2002 there were 325,000 visitors to the Kimberley, spending $237 million, up $34 million on 2001.

Retail turnover for 2001-02 was $258.7million.

The Kimberley Economic Perspective publication is available from the Kimberley Development Commission's offices in Kununurra (9168 1044), Derby (9193 1444), and Broome (9193 6795), and from www.kdc.wa.gov.au.

National Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure

Public comment is invited on draft National Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure and associated Air Toxics Impact Statement.

This measure aims to provide a nationally consistent framework for the monitoring and reporting of five key air toxics - benzene, formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), toluene and xylenes.

The measure and impact statement are available from www.ephc.gov.au and submissions are due by July 30.

Privacy laws

The State Government has released a public discussion paper outlining key privacy law proposals.

Submissions can be sent to the Privacy Working Group, Office of the Attorney General, Level 30 Allendale Square, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000.

The submissions period closes June 30, and the paper is available from www.ministers.wa.gov.au/mcginty.

Warren-Blackwood Rural Strategy

A draft Warren-Blackwood Rural planning strategy has been released for public comment until June 27.

The strategy covers 1.4 million hectares in the shires of Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Manjimup and Nannup.

Copies of the strategy are available from www.planning.wa.gov.au and regional council offices.