Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2021C00298:section:64:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2021C00298
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 64 (pt 2/10)
Character Range: 41002–44109

and the States in relation to the environment and the contribution the States can make in the development of national and international policies for which the Commonwealth has responsibilities;

RECOGNISE that environmental concerns and impacts respect neither physical nor political boundaries and are increasingly taking on interjurisdictional, international and global significance in a way that was not contemplated by those who framed the Australian Constitution;

RECOGNISE that the concept of ecologically sustainable development including proper resource accounting provides potential for the integration of environmental and economic considerations in decision making and for balancing the interests of current and future generations;

RECOGNISE that it is vital to develop and continue land use programs and co‑operative arrangements to achieve sustainable land use and to conserve and improve Australia's biota, and soil and water resources which are basic to the maintenance of essential ecological processes and the production of food, fibre and shelter;

ACKNOWLEDGE that the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative and political processes and systems for the development and implementation of environmental policy in a Federal system will be a direct function of:—

    (i) the extent to which roles and responsibilities of the different levels of Government can be clearly and unambiguously defined;

    (ii) the extent to which duplication of functions between different levels of Government can be avoided;

    (iii) the extent to which the total benefits and costs of decisions to the community are explicit and transparent;

    (iv) the extent to which effective processes are established for co‑operation between governments on environmental issues; and

    (v) the extent to which responsible Governments are clearly accountable to the electorate for the development and implementation of policy; and

ACKNOWLEDGE that in the development and implementation of environmental policy it is necessary to accommodate the regional environmental differences which occur within Australia;

THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1—APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION
    1.1 "Commonwealth" means the Commonwealth of Australia.
    1.2 "States" means a State or Territory named as a party to this Agreement.
    1.3 "Local Government" means a Local Government body established by or under a law of a State other than a body the sole or principal function of which is to provide a particular service (such as the supply of electricity or water).
    1.4 "Australian Local Government Association" means the Federation of State‑wide Local Government Associations of the States, constituted by Local Government bodies.
    1.5  A reference in this Agreement to the words "give full faith and credit" to the results of mutually approved or accredited systems, practices, procedures or processes, means that the Commonwealth and the States acting in accordance with the laws in force in their jurisdictions, will accept and rely on the outcomes of that system or the practices, procedures or