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PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP
ESD POLICIES
The Prime Minister today chaired another roundtable
meeting of major national interest groups to discuss the
development of Ecologically Sustainable Development ( ESO)
policies. The following is a precis of his opening remarks:
The ESD process has been very worthwhile. It has brought
together a wide range of Interests and groups, who have,
through the nine working groups and the intersectoral
reports, made a large number of recommendations which the
Government must now address.
The Government remains committed to the process and to
the timetable I made clear at the ESD roundtable in
March. Under that timetable, a national ESD strategy will
be in place by the end of the year.
Since the March roundtable, we have released a draft
strategy and are now taking into account the submissions
received regarding that strategy.
In the Budget, we announced a range of ESD measures,
including funding for climate change research, work on
energy efficiency, tax deductions for environmental
protection measures, and feral animal control.
During the year, we have also taken other actions, such
as the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling
Strategy, coastal zone tasks; the landcare and
environment action program, and the signing of the Rio
Contrary to some rep6rts, the ESD process has not
* stallIr, ' ayid -irr regard -to the -proc~ ess -and
recommendations, the Government now plans to:
Take into account submissions on the draft strategy
and comments made at today's roundtable
Continue negotiations and congultations, in
particular with the States, to develop a national
strategy and a firm set of policies and objectives.
The Council of Australian Governments meeting later
this year will discuss these issues.
2
Pursue, through consultation, the positions of
States on ESD working group recommendations and the
recommendations of the intersectoral reports.
Determine the apportionment of responsibilities and
jurisdiction for policies on particular issues.
Detail the extent to which recommendations are
already being implemented or locked into place in
existing policy of the Commonwealth or States.
Make clear what policies and actions we will adopt
in relation to areas where we have sole
responsibility. Also make clear, through consultations, our
objectives on issues the vast majority of issues
which require discussion with States and local
Government, because sole or primary responsibility
for implementation of those policies does not lie
with Commonwealth.
Some of the most important issues not in order of
priority emerging from the recommendations and on which
we place a high priority are:
Land and water management, including salinity and
the Murray-Darlinjg__ basin.--
Feral animals-and other pests.
Remnant vegetation cover and soil degradation.
Marine protection systems, and multiple use of
coastal waters.
Industrial waste production and disposal.
Air and water quality.
Urban infrastructure problems.
The environment management industry.
Energy production, conservation and management.
They are just some of the issues on which we place a high
priority. 1 can assure everyone involved in this process that we
will keep at the forefront of our thinking the
recommendations of the working groups and the
intersectoral reports, and finalise our policies on ESD
by the end of the year.
CANJBERRA 17 September 1992