Senator CONROY (Victoria—Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:07): The Gillard government is committed to thorough environmental assessments under the EPBC Act to ensure matters of national environmental significance in the Tarkine region are protected. The assessment process under the EPBC Act is rigorous and there are a number of points at which the public is invited to comment. Mining and development projects are currently being assessed under national environmental law in the Tarkine region, as Senator Milne has indicated. The Australian government's role is regulating proposals that have an impact on matters protected by national environmental law, including matters of national significance such as listed threatened species. Only actions which might have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance are required to be referred for approval under national environmental law. Senator Milne: I rise on a point of order, Mr President. I ask the minister to answer the question of whether there will be a decision on the National Heritage listing by the end of the year. The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is answering the question. There is no point of order at this stage. Senator CONROY: Mr Burke is well aware of the issues in the Tarkine. He has been to the Tarkine region on a number of occasions, where he met with mining stakeholders, environmental groups and tourism operators, to make sure that he had firsthand knowledge before any decisions were made. Minister Burke may seek further information and advice before making the decision. A National Heritage listing of the Tarkine, just on 30,000— (Time expired)