Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2021C00298:section:64:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2021C00298
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 64 (pt 9/10)
Character Range: 61144–64334

process;
          (ii) ensuring that there is a proper examination of matters which significantly affect the environment; and
          (iii) ensuring that measures adopted should be cost‑effective and not be disproportionate to the significance of the environmental problems being addressed.
    3.5 The parties further agree that, in order to promote the above approach, the principles set out below should inform policy making and program implementation.
    3.5.1 precautionary principle—
      Where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. In the application of the precautionary principle, public and private decisions should be guided by:
          (i) careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment; and
          (ii) an assessment of the risk‑weighted consequences of various options.
    3.5.2 intergenerational equity—
      the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations.
    3.5.3 conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity—
      conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration.
    3.5.4 improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms—

    * environmental factors should be included in the valuation of assets and services

    * polluter pays i.e. those who generate pollution and waste should bear the cost of containment, avoidance, or abatement

    * the users of goods and services should pay prices based on the full life cycle costs of providing goods and services, including the use of natural resources and assets and the ultimate disposal of any wastes

    * environmental goals, having been established, should be pursued in the most cost effective way, by establishing incentive structures, including market mechanisms, which enable those best placed to maximise benefits and/or minimise costs to develop their own solutions and responses to environmental problems.
SECTION 4—IMPLEMENTATION AND APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES
    4.1 The Schedules to this Agreement deal with specific areas of environmental policy and management and form part of this Agreement. The schedules have been prepared and are to be interpreted in accordance with Sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Agreement.
    4.2 Nothing in this Agreement will affect any existing intergovernmental agreement between the Commonwealth and a State or States, or between the States, unless alterations or amendments to those agreements are proposed in accordance with any existing review process and/or any review process arising as a result of this Agreement.
    4.3 For each particular Schedule included in this Agreement, the Commonwealth and the States undertake to nominate an agency or Ministry to assume primary responsibility within its jurisdiction for the issues covered in the Schedule and to inform the other parties accordingly.
    4.4 Where not otherwise provided in the Schedules, existing