TThis statement is in two parts. Part one provides the context for the development of the National Waste Policy and summarises the roles and responsibilities of governments. It highlights progress in relation to waste management and resource recovery and presents the drivers for change. Part two presents the National Waste Policy. The policy sets out the purpose, scope, aims, principles, key outcomes, directions, implementation and strategies for action. It has a built-in capacity, through ongoing data gathering and regular reporting to the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), an intergovernmental committee of environment ministers, to keep up with domestic and international economic, social and environmental change.