PRIME MINISTER 64/ 92
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
RELEASE OF DRAFT NATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR ECOLOGICALLY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GREENHOUSE RESPONSE
The Prime Minister released today draft National
Strategies for Ecologically Sustainable Development and
Greenhouse Response.
These companion documents are designed to promote
discussion and debate in the Australian community.
Given the complexity of the issues, the Government
believes that public discussion and response will be
essential in helping all Australian governments determine
their final policy directions.
Without public involvement and commitment, government
efforts to achieve ecologically sustainable development
( ESD) and to respond to the possibility of an enhanced
greenhouse effect will face serious difficulty.
Public comment on the draft strategies will be accepted
until August 21.
Officials will be holding a national round table meeting
of key interest groups in September, while members of the
original ESD working groups and nationally based
organisations will be invited to community consultation
forums in August.
The outcome of these meetings will be a key element in
the setting of final directions taken in the strategies.
In May 1992, Commonwealth, State and Territory Heads of
Government noted progress on development of an
intergovernmental response, in the form of national
strategies on ESD and greenhouse, to the reports of the
nine ESD Working Groups and two ESD Chairs. They agreed
that in light of the range and complexity of the issues
addressed, and in order to provide adequate opportunity
for effective public consultation, the draft strategies
should be released at the end of June as officials'
discussion papers. Heads of Government also requested
officials to bring forward proposals for the definitive
strategies by the end of October.
The Prime Minister encouraged interested groups and
individuals to participate actively in the public
consultation process. It is hoped the community will
take this opportunity of open discussion with government
officials and other interest groups on the proposed
actions and initiatives outlined in the strategies.
A broad range of measures for achieving ESD and
responding to the greenhouse effect are recommended in
the draft strategies.
The Prime Minister noted that the ESD Working Group
process has already had a significant impact on
government policies and processes. A large number of
initiatives have already been developed and put in place
by all levels of governments, and in a wide variety of
agencies, to help move Australia towards an ecologically
sustainable future. Together, the draft strategies
outline a number of the actions that governments have
taken in response to the ESD Working Group Reports.
All levels of government will be involved in finalising
the strategies for Heads of Government agreement of
specific actions and initiatives by November.
Copies of the draft strategies are being widely
distributed to libraries and peak interest groups. They
can also be obtained free of charge by contacting one of
the nominated agencies in each State or Territory.
Contact addresses for these agencies are attached.
CANBERRA June 1992
CONTACT LIST FOR DRAFT NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL GREENHOUSE RESPONSE STRATEGY
Commonwealth ESD/ Greenhouse Discussion Papers
Locked Bag 14
Oueen Victoria Terrace
BARTON ACT 2600
Ph ( 06) 241 6523 or 241 4841
New South Wales
Mr Eric Sondalini
Natural Resources Branch
The Cabinet Office
Level 6
State Office Block
Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Victoria Ms Kaye Hegstrom
Dept of the Premier and Cabinet
2nd Floor
1 Treasury Place
MELBOURNE VIC 3002
Queensland Dr Brian Head
Office of Cabinet
Executive Building
100 George Street
BRISBANE OLD 4000
South Australia
Mr Andrew Lothian
Dept of Environment Planning
Lower Ground Floor
New Zealand Insurance Building
Grenfell Street
ADELAIDE SA 5000 Western Australia
Ms Dorina Ion
Department of the Cabinet
15th Floor, Capita Centre
197 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Tasmania
Mr Alan Sann
Dept of Environment Planning
160 Collins Street
HOBART TAS 7000
Northern Territory ESD
Mr Rhett Marlowe
Department of the Chief Minister
4th Floor, NT House
Mitchell Street
DARWIN NT 0831
Northern Territory Greenhouse
Mr John Llewellyn
The Conservation Commission
of the Northern Territory
Gaymark Building
Francis Mall
PALMERSTON NT 0831
ACT Ms Karen Wilden
Environment Conservation Div
Dept of Environment Planning
1st Floor, Homeworld
TUGGERANONG ACT 2901
Local Government
The Australian Local Government
Association
8 Geils Court
DEAKIN ACT 2600