WTMA Decisions

The Wet Tropics Management Authority is a statutory authority set up under the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993.The Authority is responsible to both the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Wet Tropics Ministerial Council and has an independent Board of Directors appointed by both Governments. Administratively the Authority is a unit within the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

The principle decision making body is the WTMA Board which comprises seven directors and reports to the Wet Tropics Ministerial Council. Major decisions regarding changes to Wet Tropics legislation require approval by Ministerial Council before going to the Queensland Government for approval and endorsement by Governor-in-Council.

Wet Tropics Ministerial Council

The Wet Tropics Ministerial Council comprises four members, with two members each nominated by the Australian and Queensland Governments. The Queensland Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability chairs the Ministerial Council. Current members are:

• Hon Kate Jones MP, Queensland Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability (Chair)
• Hon Tony Burke MP, Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
• Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, Australian Minister for Tourism.
• Hon Peter Lawlor MP, Queensland Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading

The Executive Director of the Wet Tropics Management Authority is Secretary to Ministerial Council (s24(4) of WTWHPM Act 1993). Ministerial Council's function is to coordinate policy and funding of the Wet Tropics of Queensland between the Australian and Queensland Governments; and to approve management plans and budgets and appoint the Wet Tropics Board.

WTMA Board

The WTMA Board is made up of seven directors and reports to the Ministerial Council. It is responsible for the way the Authority performs its functions and exercises its powers. The Board meets several times a year to discuss and prioritise the Authority's objectives, strategies and policies. The Executive Director of the Wet Tropics Management Authority is a non-voting member of the Board. The Board receives advice and feedback from a number of committees and advisory groups. Each group meets three or four times a year to discuss relevant issues and policy proposals relating to the World Heritage Area. Their advice is provided to the WTMA Board.

Wet Tropics legislation

In 1990 the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments agreed on a framework to manage the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. An outcome of this agreement was the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 which stipulated the development of a management plan for the World Heritage Area - the Wet Tropics Management Plan 1998. A primary role of the Authroity is to adminster the Wet Tropics Management Plan. The legislation pages of the website gives a brief summary of these laws and how they affect the management of the Area. They also detail the zoning system and permits system under the Plan.

WTMA policies and strategies

The Wet Tropics Management Authority Board has developed a range of 17 policies and strategies for the World Heritage Area.

Department of Environment and Resource Management

Administratively the Authority is a unit within the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). As part of the Queensland public sector, the Authority is subject to established public sector legislation, regulations, standards and guidelines governing administrative functions and arrangements. The Director- General of the DERM is the accountable officer for the Authority under the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1997. The Authority is responsible to the Director-General regarding compliance with State Government administrative and financial standards.

For more information about the administrative regulations, standards and guidelines governing the Authority, and the decisions of the Department of Environment and Resource Management, please see the DERM publication scheme.