Premier releases final State Sustainability Strategy

17/9/03
Premier Geoff Gallop has launched a Strategy that will make Western Australia a better place to live.
Dr Gallop released 'Hope for the Future: The Western Australian State Sustainability Strategy' as part of his opening presentation to the International Sustainability Conference in Fremantle involving over 400 delegates and representatives from 22 State and regional governments from around the world.
The State Sustainability Strategy is the first comprehensive sustainability blueprint released by any Australian State or Territory Government.
"This strategy sets a new course for WA and will be used by Government as a benchmark for decision-making," Dr Gallop said.
Sustainability is defined in the strategy as meeting the needs of current and future generations through an integration of environmental protection, social advancement and economic prosperity.
The Premier said that sustainability is an ambitious, long-term agenda and the global debate has shown us that integrating the environment, society and the economy remains an enormous challenge.
"But it also provides us with the basis for real hope for the future - hope that human development can be forever geared towards protecting the environment and raising the quality of life of all citizens," Dr Gallop said.
The State Sustainability Strategy proposes 11 principles for sustainability and six vision statements and outlines 42 areas of action and over 300 actions to be undertaken by Government agencies.
It addresses the way in which the State is governed and the activity of Government agencies; the management and use of natural resources; the planning and building of our settlements; and the important contribution of the community, business and industry; as well as the State's ability to contribute to the overall global effort for sustainability.
The State Government will lead by example by developing a Sustainability Act - the first in Australia.
"The Sustainability Act will embed sustainability at the very highest level and ensure that it is implemented right across Government", the Premier said.
"Government agencies will also be required to develop sustainability action plans to ensure the pursuit of sustainability in their day-to-day activities and decision making."
The Government will also establish a Sustainability Roundtable to advise Government and bring together Western Australian leaders in sustainability to oversee the implementation of the State Sustainability Strategy.
The Premier also announced that the Government had committed to a local government water campaign as part of the State Water Strategy.
The campaign, to be implemented by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in partnership with the WA Local Government Association, will involve a sustainable water management program for WA councils.
The State Sustainability Strategy was prepared following extensive public consultation by the Sustainability Policy Unit within the Department of Premier and Cabinet in partnership with academic institutions and key stakeholders representing business, social and environmental interests.
Some 170 written submissions were received on the draft strategy that was issued in September 2002.
Copies of the strategy are available from the sustainability website http://www.sustainability.dpc.wa.gov.au or from the Sustainability Policy Unit (08 9222 9389).
Premier's Office - 9222 9475