Early in 1992, all three levels of Australian governments signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment. The Agreement commits governments to integrating economic and environmental considerations into decision-making to achieve ecologically sustainable development.

Later that same year, after discussions between industry groups, environmental groups and all levels of government, Australia committed itself to a National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development. This type of development:

…improves the total quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends.

The protection of biological diversity is one of three core objectives of the National Strategy, and a cornerstone of the Intergovernmental Agreement. The latter stated that:

…conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration [of policy making and program implementation].

In 1996 the governments of all Australian states and territories agreed on the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity.

These community debates and government commitments mirrored those in the international arena. The 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development produced Agenda 21, which in turn led to the 1994 International Convention on Biological Diversity.

Having already set forth on a path of sustainable development, the Australian Government readily became a party to this convention. Most other countries have also joined the cause. Here in Victoria, the effort to integrate environmental concerns with economic development began many years earlier. For more than 25 years we have had a vigorous community debate about how best to protect our environment. Throughout that time, Victorian Governments have actively reformed legislation and established programs to protect the environment. Grass-roots movements (such as Land for Wildlife, Landcare and the ‘Friends’ groups associated with national parks) have also actively contributed to environmental protection and the conservation of biodiversity.