Investing in Our Natural and Cultural Heritage

	Document Index 1999-2000 Ministerial Statements Investing in our Natural and Cultural Heritage Chapter 3

GREENING OF GOVERNMENT

Internal Environmental Management
- Department of Defence Environmental Work

Internal Environmental Management

Most Commonwealth portfolios have policies and programmes aimed at reducing environmental impacts of their operations and activities (Table 3.3). Additionally, the development of environmental efficiency is one of the productivity initiatives in the Australian Public Service Enterprise Agreement.

A number of Commonwealth departments have formulated environment and heritage policies to provide recommendations, administrative support and on-going evaluation concerning the impact of high-profile agency activities on the environment.

Table 3.3: Summary of Environment Management in Commonwealth Portfolios

Portfolio	Recycling of Paper and Other Wastes	Energy/ Water Saving	Environmental Management Plan and/or Audits	Environmental Building Design
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	4	4	4	4
Attorney-General's	4	4	4	4
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	4		4
Defence	4	4	4	4
Education, Training and Youth Affairs	4	4
Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business	4	4		4
Environment and Heritage	4	4	4	4
Family and Community Services	4	4	4	4
Finance and Administration	4	4	4	4
Foreign Affairs and Trade (* relates to properties in Australia)	4	4	4*	4
Health and Aged Care	4	4	4	4
Immigration and Multicultural Affairs	4	4	4
Industry, Science and Resources	4	4	4
Prime Minister and Cabinet	4	4
Transport and Regional Services	4	4	4
Treasury	4	4
Veterans' Affairs	4	4	4	4

Department of Defence Environmental Work

The Department of Defence formulates, implements and advises on Defence corporate environment and heritage policy relating to the environmental aspects of Defence activities and proposals. There is emphasis on environmental impact assessment of high profile Defence proposals. Defence also monitors performance through the Defence Environment Panel, oversees compliance with Commonwealth environmental (including heritage) legislation, issues Environmental Certificates of Compliance as required, develops and maintains the Defence corporate Environmental Management System, provides Portfolio environmental policy to wider government fora and participates in Commonwealth, State and Territory environmental committees. Finally, it manages Defence environmental research projects and initiatives, and coordinates Australian International environmental cooperation. Defence environment activities highlights are:

preparation of corporate environmental management system;
military exercise environmental impact assessment and management plan (Crocodile 99 and Wallaby 99);
departmental instructions on environmental management (including an Environmental Compliance Manual);
environmental management plans for the Defence Estate.;
environmental management information system; and
an energy efficiency improvement programme.

Contact: Department of Defence -- 02 6266 3707