Environment Protection Act 1997

A person administering this Act must have regard to the following principles where relevant:

the principle of a shared responsibility for the environment, including through—

acknowledging environmental needs in economic and social decision-making; and

public education about and public involvement in decisions about protection, restoration and enhancement of the environment;

the precautionary principle;

the inter-generational equity principle;

the waste minimisation principle;

the polluter pays principle;

the principle of ecologically sustainable development.

In this section:

ecologically sustainable development means the effective integration of economic and environmental considerations in decision-making processes, achievable through implementation of the following:

the precautionary principle;

the inter-generational equity principle;

conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity;

improved valuation and pricing of environmental resources.

inter-generational equity principle means that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations.

polluter pays principle means that polluters should bear the appropriate share of the costs that arise from their activities.

precautionary principle means that, if there is a threat of serious or irreversible environmental damage, a lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.

waste minimisation principle means controlling the generation, storage, collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste to reduce, minimise and, where practical, eliminate harm to the environment.