Abstract
In mid-2012, the Great Barrier Reef ('GBR') World Heritage Area ('WHA') was the subject of a reactive monitoring mission by the World Heritage Committee to consider the state of conservation. This has potential to result in an 'in danger' listing for the GBR WHA if measures including strategic environmental assessment ('SEA') - known in Australia as 'strategic assessment' but elsewhere globally as SEA - are not taken to ensure its protection. Although the Great Barrier Reef SEA has since commenced, the issue as to whether this will now make any difference, or indeed be sufficient to overcome the pressures from industry - in particular in the lead up to a federal election emphasising a deregulation agenda - must however be in considerable doubt. This article examines what SEA is and, as a significant contribution towards it, evaluates future prospects for environmental protection in Australia given a looming deregulation agenda likely after the 2013 federal election.
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