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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.

The nine Pacific Island countries (PICs)1 covered in this regional strategy face similar development challenges today despite notable differences in history, culture, and endowments. The lack of economic growth in the face of growing populations has contributed to rising unemployment and hardship in the region. Even those countries that have seen positive growth in per capita income have been unable to fully translate this into adequate job creation and poverty reduction. With over 50 percent of the region's population under age 24, steady rural-to-urban migration, and the erosion of traditional systems of social support, all PICs recognize the importance of dealing with the issue of youth unemployment and its associated social problems.

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.