Sophie Howe, the first Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, recently completed a successful two-week visit to Australia to promote the importance of a Future Generations Commissioner.
Hosted by Professor Susan Harris Rimmer of the Policy Innovation Hub and the Centre for Policy Development, Sophie’s visit aimed to raise awareness about the benefits of taking a sustainable and forward-thinking approach to policy-making in Australia. Sophie explained that the role of the Future Generations Commissioner is to “hold the government to account and to call them out when they are not acting in the interest of future generations.”
Adopted first in Wales the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act embeds the protection of future generations into legislation, making sustainable development the organising principle of government. Australia needs a Future Generations Act and a Future Generations Commissioner, and we want parties to take this promise to the next election,” Professor Harris Rimmer said.
During her visit, Sophie met with politicians, government officials, academics, media, and community organizations in Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra to discuss the need for a long-term approach to policy-making.
The visit was sponsored by the Policy Innovation Hub’s EveryGen program, which is committed to promoting innovative policy solutions. Professor Sue Harris-Rimmer and EveryGen are leading calls for Australia to adopt a similar position as Wales and introduce law reforms that can help hold decision-makers accountable for Australia’s long-term interests.
Professor Harris-Rimmer emphasized the importance of taking a long-term view when making policy decisions:
“You can’t predict the future, but you can give future generations better options.”
To learn more about the EveryGen program and its mission to promote innovative policy solutions, visit their website. There, you’ll find a range of resources, Op-Ed pieces, and media interviews about Sophie Howe’s visit to Australia.
For further information about the program connect with EveryGen at www.everygen.online.