PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 24 AUGUST 1990
The Government has appointed Professors Stuart Harris and
David Throsby and Dr Roy Green to chair the working groups
on ecologically sustainable development.
The formulation of strategies for ecologically sustainable
development is one of the most pressing and important tasks
facing my Government.
As indicated in June when the Government's discussion paper,
Ecologically Sustainable Development, was released for
public comment, nine sectoral working groups are being
established. The working groups will include
representatives of industry, the conservation and trade
union movements and State/ Territory and Commonwealth
Governments, and the CSIRO. Consumer organisations will
also be represented on relevant groups.
As well as the discussion paper, the working groups will
have before them the comments which the Government has
received on that paper. The Government is very pleased with
the extent of the responses and the seriousness with which
the issues raised have been addressed. Many respondents
have identified a number of additional cross-sectoral issues
that they consider warrant attention. The Chairs of the
working groups are being asked to take all these
cross-sectoral issues into account in the development of
their sectoral proposals.
The Government will make public the additional issues
identified in the comments. The Government will itself be
considering all the issues raised in comments on the
discussion paper.
Each Chairperson will chair three working groups.
Professor Harris will be responsible for the mining,
manufacturing, and energy production and distribution
working groups; Professor Throsby for the transport, energy
use and tourism working groups; and Dr Green for the
agriculture, forestry and fisheries working groups.
The Chairs will consult together and with Ministers
regularly to ensure that questions raised in the
commentaries as well as those signalled in the discussion
paper are fully and consistently integrated into the work of
the sectoral working groups.
The Chairs are also being asked to ensure that interested
groups and individuals who are not represented on the
working groups have the opportunity to bring information and
views to the attention of the working groups. Other member7s
of the groups will assist in this broader consultation.
The experience, training and qualifications of the three
chairpersons makes them eminently qualified for their task.
Stuart Harris is currently Professor, Department of
International Relations in the Research School of Pacific
Studies at the Australian National University. He has an
extensive research background and has held important posts
in academic institutions and the public service. Professor
Harris was previously Director of the Centre for Resource
and Environmental Studies at the Australian National
University, and Secretary of the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade.
David Throsby is Professor of Economics at Macquarie
University. He has wide experience as a resource economist:
and has acted as a consultant to a number of major
international organisations, including the FAO, UNESCO, the:
World Bank, and many State, Federal Government and private
sector agencies.
Roy Green has been Director of the CSIRO Institute of
Natural Resources and Environment since January 1988. Prior
to that he has had wide experience in industry and
government. Previous major appointments have included
Secretary to the Australian Science and Technology Council,
Deputy Secretary of the Department of Science and Executive
Adviser in the Department of Industry, Technology and
Commerce. Copies of the Commonwealth discussion paper, Ecologically
Sustainable Development, can be obtained from Australian
Government Publishing Service ( AGPS) bookshops in each
capital city. Any further comments on the discussion paper
will be forwarded to the Chairs for their consideration.
A related Treasury paper, Economic and Regulatory Measures
for Ecologically Sustainable Development, was published in
the Economic Round-up of June 1990 and can be obtained from
AGPS bookshops.