Oil and gas are not renewable resources and to maintain self-sufficiency we must continue to discover and develop new fields. The economic importance of hydrocarbon exploration and development will be recognised in the Australian Oceans Policy. Tourism Australians are well aware of how important our coasts and adjacent waters are for tourism and recreation. The Australian beach is one of our best known images overseas. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's great tourist destinations.
Tourism provides opportunities for our businesses and creates considerable regional employment.
The industry should have an equal chance to grow alongside other uses of our environment and resource use decisions must recognise its importance. Future coastal development needs to be sustainable and the management of tourism must maintain and value its assets. The Australian Oceans Policy is an important framework within which our tourism industry can make the most of new opportunities without environmental degradation. Shipping and Transport Shipping patterns through the Pacific, South East Asia and the Indian Ocean were laid down in ancient regional and global trade routes, which included the Australian continent. Modern nations plying the seas face modern issues, such as port development, sea communication, ship-generated pollution and safety at sea.