The 2026 National Defence Strategy sets out a clear and priority-driven approach to protecting against threats to Australia and our interests.

To maintain appropriate readiness levels, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) must have access to high quality training areas and facilities, managed in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner.

As a custodian of the environment in which it operates, Defence must maintain the trust of the Australian community to deliver the ADF mission and ensure its activities are sustainably managed.

Defence’s environment management program includes:

• biodiversity
• biosecurity
• bushfire management
• heritage management
• waste and recycled materials
• sustainability
• contamination management
• pollution prevention
• PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) investigation and management
• estate water management
• estate climate adaptation
• mitigation and environmental impact assessment and approval.

Every person in Defence is responsible and accountable for sound and sustainable environmental management in the conduct of their duties.