Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the evidence of policy effectiveness. It is therefore naïve to assume that more
evidence will lead to a change in the attitudes of those opposing the levy.
The successful implementation of significant environmental policy will,
no doubt, impose substantial costs on some industries, companies and even
individuals. Those who wish to drive large 4WDs that currently have explicit
tax concessions, for example, will need to pay higher import duties, higher
registration fees and significantly higher fuel bills if the Australian Govern-
ment introduces environmentally desirable transport policies. Such a pros-
pect will ensure continued opposition from a small number of consumers
and manufacturers. If the desire is to achieve change rather than amass
further knowledge, there must be a shift in emphasis from inquiries into the
environment to inquiries into implementing environmental policies.
Australia needs to develop a comprehensive framework for the imple-
mentation of environmental policies. A good model for such a framework
can be found in the Hilmer Report and the subsequent development of
National Competition Policy (NCP).
Governments initiated a national
approach to competition policy reform in October 1992 when they estab-
lished an Independent Committee of Inquiry into a National Competition
Policy for Australia. (The committee's recommendations have become
known as the Hilmer Report, named after its Chair, Fred Hilmer (see NCC
2004).) The development and implementation of NCP saw the formation of
new enforcement agencies (the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) and the National Competition Council (NCC)) as
well as the creation of a system of financial rewards and penalties designed to
encourage or coerce participation by state and local governments. National
Competition Policy has succeeded, on its own terms, despite the trenchant
opposition of large numbers of voters, workers, unions, companies and State
Governments. It did so, in part, by identifying the likely winners and losers,
harnessing the support of the likely winners and compensating the most
politically difficult opponents. Such a pragmatic, political approach to envi-
ronmental policy is essential if significant changes are to occur.
3 Individual action
While there is no doubt that many large-scale changes in policy can only be
implemented by governments, there is also no doubt that individuals have an
essential role to play. At the very least they must demand more information
from their political representatives about their environmental priorities and
