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Marine megafauna has a high public appeal in Australia, both for its ecological value as well as its economic, cultural and spiritual importance. Australian waters are home to 45 species of cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises), including permanent residents and occasional visitors. Dugongs, Whale sharks and six species of marine turtle are also found in Australian waters. The risk of vessel collision is a known threat for Australia’s marine megafauna, however, the scale of the problem is not clearly understood. Impacts to individual animals can be fatal or non-fatal, with non-fatal interactions potentially resulting in suffering and reduced fitness.

Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2030 (referred to as ‘the Strategy’) is a guiding framework for conserving our nation’s biodiversity over the coming decades. The vision of this Strategy is that Australia’s biodiversity is healthy and resilient to threats, and valued both in its own right and for its essential contribution to our existence. Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variety of all life forms. There are three levels of biodiversity:| genetic diversity—the variety of genetic information contained in individual plants, animals and micro-organisms| species diversity—the variety of species| ecosystem diversity—the variety of habitats, ecological communities and ecological processes. Biodiversity occurs in all environments on Earth—terrestrial, aquatic and marine.

The Australian Government has developed this National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy to articulate how Australia is managing the risks of a variable and changing climate. The Strategy affirms a set of principles to guide effective adaptation practice and resilience building, looks at leading practice nationally, and considers areas for future review, consultation and action.

Implementation framework 2010-2014 for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2007 (NBSAP) : Fiji Islands

It is our intention to design a strategy that will move Fiji from an over-reliance on dumping wastes and littering to a position where it will be a model for sustainable waste management. Waste cannot be reduced without a system that manages waste from the point of generation through to disposal. Up till now, waste policies provided an end of pipe solution by focusing mainly on disposal rather than prevention. There is a need to develop a new vision for minimizing waste and managing it better.

The Australian Government’s new development policy Australian aid: promoting prosperity, reducing poverty, enhancing stability and new performance framework Making Performance Count: enhancing the accountability and effectiveness of Australian aid introduce key shifts in our aid program.