During 1994 Australia took two significant actions in relation to its maritime claims. On 1 August it declared a 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and on 5 October it ratified the UNCLOS. The declaration of the EEZ was the final stage in a lengthy process which reflects the impact of federalism and international developments in the management of Australia's offshore areas. This article examines the background to these recent developments and considers the implications of these maritime claims on Australian management of its offshore areas. In particular, the article reviews the constitutional, legal and political elements which have influenced Australia's particular approach towards its offshore areas.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Studies in Human Society
Research Group:	Political Science
Research Field:	Political Science not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society
UTAS Author:	Haward, MG (Professor Marcus Haward)
ID Code:	7812
Year Published:	1996
Web of Science® Times Cited:	17
Deposited By:	Government
Deposited On:	1996-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-19
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