Publications

Living Cities - Air Toxics Program

Building on the extensive experience of the States and Territories in the management of air quality, Australian Governments at Commonwealth, State and Territory levels are committed to working together to manage air toxics and to further improve the quality of our air. In July 1999, the Commonwealth Government initiated its Living Cities program to address a wide range of issues focusing on the urban environment-air quality, urban waterways, waste management, chemical collection, urban vegetation, and coastal water quality.

The Living Cities-Air Toxics Program was established to support the development of a national strategy to monitor and manage air toxics.

As a first step the Commonwealth environment department, Environment Australia, gathered information on air toxics and indoor air quality and published a detailed report of its findings-the State of Knowledge Report: Air Toxics and Indoor Air Quality in Australia.

Consultative groups

In the interests of engaging the broader community, two consultative groups were established under the Living Cities-Air Toxics Program: the Steering Group and the Technical Advisory Group. These groups helped develop and implement the Air Toxics Program. They brought together representatives of: Commonwealth, State and Territory environment and health departments, and the peak bodies of environment, industry and community organisations.