Re-evaluating our resources - natural and human - is the future for Australia

The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists has developed a blueprint for fundamental change to our land and water management systems involving a series of building blocks for sustainable natural resource use.

In the first place, there needs to be a commitment to long-term action by all political parties. Governments will change and there must be confidence that partnerships, once begun, will be continued. Resource management plans should be developed on a regional basis and owned and driven by regional communities. One size doesn't fit all and there will be different priorities in different regions.

Regional plans should be consistent with broad national policies and priorities. The Commonwealth should make it clear to the states that the targets must be met and that no other outcome will be accepted.

Two key national priorities should be increasing environmental flows in the Murray-Darling system and capping the Great Artesian Basin.

There should be a market in which landholders can bid to provide environmental services for public benefit. The services would help to implement regional plans, using public investment. Systems already are being trialled in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

There should be a national water market with consistent cross-border mechanisms. The issue of what water allocation goes with property rights needs to be resolved. It would help if the cost of water could be better reflected in product pricing and description.

Everyone agrees that very significant long-term public investment is required and that there needs to be a secure mechanism to raise it. My own view is that much of the public investment in practice will need to come from the federal government and I can see no more effective option than an environment levy as part of the commonwealth tax system.

However, taxpayers would need to have confidence that their new contributions are being used properly. There have been allegations that successive federal governments have allocated Landcare and Natural Heritage Trust funds with political intent.

I therefore believe an independent body, eg. a sustainability commission, should receive and administer the proceeds of an environment tax levy, conduct regular resource audits and report each year to the federal Parliament. It also should provide expert advice to government on natural resource management policy.

Whatever the final detail, I am encouraged by the developing consensus around a series of building blocks to care for our country. And their potential to cement part of the foundation for a contemporary Australian culture and identity is a fitting concept to contemplate on Australia Day.

The second part of the foundation for a contemporary Australian identity must involve the relationships that shape our civil society.

In particular, I believe the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians deserves special attention. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the first peoples of Australia and have special rights arising from that status. Their cultural heritage is protected by commonwealth and state legislation.