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1999
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA
SENATE
AUSTRALIAN
TOURIST COMMISSION AMENDMENT BILL 1999
REVISED EXPLANATORY
MEMORANDUM
THIS
MEMORANDUM TAKES ACCOUNT OF AMENDMENTS MADE BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO
THE BILL AS INTRODUCED
(Circulated by authority of the
Minister for Sport and Tourism, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the
Sydney 2000 Games the Hon Jackie Kelly MP)
ISBN: 0642 407517
AUSTRALIAN TOURIST COMMISSION AMENDMENT BILL
1999
The Australian Tourist Commission (the “Commission”) was
established by the Australian Tourist Commission Act 1987 (the
“Act”). Section 6 of the Act sets out the principal objects of the
Commission.
Paragraph 6(c) of the Act is the principal object dealing
with the Commission’s environmental responsibilities. It provides that a
principal object of the Commission is to ensure that Australia is protected from
adverse environmental and social impacts of international tourism.
The
Australian Tourist Commission Amendment Bill 1999 proposes an amendment of the
Commission’s principal object set out in paragraph 6(c) so that it more
closely reflects the Commission’s powers in this area.
The
Commission has been criticised by the Australian National Audit Office for not
being able to demonstrate that it is meeting its statutory object, particularly
the object set out in paragraph 6(c). Additionally, the Joint Committee of
Public Accounts and Audit in its Review of Auditor General’s Reports
1997-98 recommended that the Commission should propose to its Minister that this
statutory object should be amended to clarify the Commission’s
role.
There will be no additional expenditure by the Commonwealth as a result
of this Bill.
Clause 1 - Short Title
1. Clause 1 provides for the
proposed Act to be cited as the Australian Tourist Commission Amendment Act
1999.
Clause 2 - Commencement
2. Clause 2 provides for
the proposed Act to commence on the day on which it receives the Royal
Assent.
Clause 3 - Schedule(s)
3. Clause 3 provides that
each Act that is specified in a Schedule to the proposed Act is amended as set
out in the applicable items of the Schedule.
Item 1 - Paragraph 6(c)
4. Item 1 of Schedule 1
proposes the repeal of paragraph 6(c) of the Act and substitutes a new paragraph
6(c). Proposed new paragraph 6(c) more closely reflects the Commission’s
powers in relation to environmental protection of Australia. The proposed new
paragraph provides that in meeting its principal objects, the Commission is to
work with other agencies (as appropriate) and to have regard to the principles
of ecologically sustainable development set out in subsection 21(3) of the
Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 and the social impacts of
international tourism in Australia.