The EPA's philosophy is to prevent pollution before it occurs and to avoid the creation of waste, recognising that strong and credible pollution control and waste regulatory programs are needed to help solve existing problems. Many gains in environment protection have been made over the last 25 years, particularly through regulatory control of sources of industrial pollution. The environment has intrinsic value. Everyone is part of the environment and shares responsibility for its health. A holistic approach is needed to achieve ongoing environmental outcomes.
Prevention is preferred to control and remediation.
The EPA should lead by example. The EPA is a unique public sector organisation in that some specific functions and general oversight of management are given to an independent Board, with expertise in the environment, agriculture, industry, commerce, science, policy, regional issues, law and local government. The Board is not an operational body and is independent of government direction. The Board's statutory role is to provide strategic direction and environmental policy development, to make key decisions on significant prosecutions and to approve EPA exemptions under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act. The EPA's Director-General and staff control and carry out statutory functions such as operational and licensing decisions.