Australia – Key statements

March 2023

27/3/23

• We restate – we want clear robust effective Rules, Regulations and Procedures including standards and guidelines in place before any exploitation is approved.

21/3/23

• Called for protection of the marine environment from ‘harmful effects’
• Called for contractors to monitor, mitigate, and remediate any harm (DOSI warned that mitigation or remediation of any impacts in the deep-sea would not be possible and impacts would be irreversible)

October/November 2022

11/11/22

• Called for more time to be allocated to LTC meeting next year.

4/11/22

• Australia stated that “we think that we should continue in good faith to complete the regulations by July of next year”

July/August 2022

4/8/22

• “Australia respects that in activating the 2-year trigger, Nauru was exercising their rights under international law. There is a considerable amount of work to do on the regulations.  Australia is committed to finalize the regulations and associated instruments by July next year. We want to meet the deadlines on 1994 agreement.”

3/8/22

• Stated that “this may risk a conflict of interest in ISA processes.”
• “We recognize that there is currently no industry group representing DSM, but there is no obstacle to one being formed.”

25/7/22

• Australia supported New Zealand’s proposal to delete ‘serious’ before the word ‘harm’ in regulations.

21/7/22

• Australia stated that it fully supported the need for strong environmental protection.