6. Show real leadership and promote a bi-partisan commitment to environmental reform.
The overwhelming majority of Australians - from every walk of life and of all political persuasions - believe that the environment is the most important issue for the future. They are looking for all political parties to commit to substantial environment reform.
Public policy is currently dominated by a mindset that immediate growth in the GDP is more important than long-term sustainability and the future of our children.
The result is that we have no real vision for our future. Rather than laying the foundations for a sustainable future, we prop up heavily-polluting and ineffi cient industries through subsidies and tax breaks. At the same time we wear the cost of the damage these industries create.
Environment reform is an essential driver to a prosperous future. Cutting the waste of energy, water, and land and encouraging an effi cient and clean economy fosters innovation and productivity. Early and decisive action to cut greenhouse pollution and repair damaged ecosystems avoids the massive economic costs of damaged infrastructure, health, agriculture and tourism.
We can encourage the development and use of new sustainable products and services. We need to look forward to the jobs and industries of the future, not entrench those of the past. Within a generation we could be living within the natural limits of the planet. Australia needs a new direction that sets us on the path to achieve true sustainability. The Federal Government should lead a new approach by the Australian Federation that brings environment reform central to decision making. The Commonwealth and States should agree and implement a ‘Sustainability Reform Agenda’ This new direction must be informed by consideration of the environmental, social and economic consequences of our decisions and backed up by responsible public and private investment rather than
wasteful subsidies.
To promote leadership on sustainability across the Australian community, the Government must:
6.1 Set out a sustainability agenda – establish with the States an Australian ustainability Charter with key targets to be implemented by a well resourced National Sustainability Commission.
6.2 Cut damaging subsidies – Remove subsidies and incentives for damaging activities under a new wave of national reform, and establish market measures to encourage more sustainable activity.
6.3 Maximise wellbeing – Establish a balanced ‘wellbeing index’ that refl ects economic, environment, health, education and wellbeing indicators as the foundation for government decision making.
6.4 Help Australians invest wisely – Require full disclosure of signifi cant environmental risks and impacts by Australian businesses, and ensure that Government superannuation and the Future Fund abide by the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
6.5 Legislate responsibly – Strengthen the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act so it can adequately protect the Australian environment and ensure developments with signifi cant greenhouse pollution are assessed by the Australian Government.
6.6 Help vulnerable communities – Any reform process involves change, and assistance
should be provided for vulnerable communities to adjust and transition to a sustainable future.