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Defence
recognises that effective environmental management is an important
part of successfully undertaking Defence activities and ensuring
the long-term sustainability of the Australian Defence Force
(ADF) capability and the Defence estate.
Defence understands its responsibilities in
environmental management and is committed to complying with
Commonwealth environmental legislation and regulations such
as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999.
In December 2005, the Secretary for the Department
of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Force re-endorsed
the Defence Environmental Policy. The Policy demonstrates
Defence's strong commitment to managing and improving its
environmental performance through an EMS approach and communicates
a clear environmental vision that states:
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"Defence
will be a leader in sustainable environmental management
to support the ADF's capability to defend Australia and
its national interests" |
The Defence
Environmental Policy is implemented through the
Defence Environmental Strategic Plan 2006-2009.
Defence implemented the Australian Government's
policy direction that all Commonwealth Agencies were to have
a corporate EMS in place by December 2002, with at least one
site certified by December 2003. Defence achieved these requirements
through the corporate EMS being assessed as consistent with
the international standard ISO 14001: 2004 Environmental Management
Systems and Certification of RAAF Base Townsville's EMS and
subsequent certification of Puckapunyal Military Area. Defence
continues to progressively roll-out its EMS approach through
higher risk Groups and Services activities and at its key
Defence sites, where activities and the stewardship of environmental
values need to be managed on the ground.
The purpose of Defence's EMS is to provide
an integrated approach to environmental management as part
of everyday business. The Defence EMS aims to provide a robust
system that enables Defence to identify and manage potential
impacts on the environment that may arise from its activities.
The Defence EMS model is displayed below.
For further information on the Defence EMS
please email environmentandheritage@defence.gov.au.
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