Sustainable Australia Party is an independent community movement with a science and evidence-based approach to policy - not a left or right wing ideology. We have developed a broad policy platform to address Australia's growing economic, environmental and social problems.
For starters, SAP campaigns to:
- Protect our environment
- Stop overdevelopment
- Stop corruption
And much more!
In summary - a sustainable Australia that is democratically governed for the people, not vested interests. Our policy priorities, and much more, are detailed in our broad policy platform below.
Some policy highlights include:
- A properly enforced national biodiversity and native species program (see Animals & Biodiversity)
- Swiss-style binding citizen-initiated referenda and plebiscites (see Anti-corruption & Governance)
- Use a broader Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) as a key measure of Australia’s progress that redefines 'growth' and prioritises growth in good things, including health and wellbeing, not growth in bad things like consumption and population as encouraged by the current 'GDP' measure (see Economy)
- Offer free and universal university and TAFE education for Australian citizens (see Education)
- Implement a ban on all new coal mines and fracking (see Energy)
- Enshrine into Australian law the fundamental human right of a healthy natural environment for its citizens and prioritise this in all policy and development decision (see Environment)
- Act on climate change and contribute to staying below 1.5 degrees global temperature rise compared to pre-industrial levels (see Environment)
- Ban further foreign ownership and limit future foreign investment to a maximum of 25 per cent of any Australian natural resource asset (see Foreign Investment)
- Expand Medicare to include all basic dental services (see Health)
- Remove the 50 per cent discount of capital gains tax on taxable Australian property (non-principal place of residence) and abolish negative gearing on taxable Australian property, with existing arrangements to be grandfathered (see Housing Affordability)
- Establish a federally funded national job guarantee program in order to ensure full employment, managed through the re-established Commonwealth Employment Service (see Job Guarantee)
- Return real planning powers to local communities through proper engagement (see Planning & Development)
- Protect important public assets from further privatisation and re-nationalise on just terms and/or re-establish key public assets and essential services and utilities as soon as practicable (see Privatisation & Public Assets)
- Rebuild and/or adequately fund public scientific flagship institutions such as the CSIRO (see Science)
- Stabilise Australia's population size as soon as practicable (see Sustainable Population & Immigration)
- End multinational tax avoidance and profit shifting to low or no tax jurisdictions (see Taxation)
- Re-negotiate all of Australia’s so-called 'Free Trade Agreements' (see Trade)
- Expand state-based rail and/or bus networks, in preference to building more roads (see Transport)
- Establish major regional centres dedicated to the repair, re-sale and responsible recycling of electronic waste and household goods, as well as a repair café in every suburb and town under the Environmental Job Guarantee (see Waste)
- Protect environmental flows in all river systems to ensure that the quantity and quality of water sustains communities, including traditional owners, and entire river ecosystems (see Water)
- A universal age pension from the age of 65 (see Welfare)
Click on the policy links below.
If you largely agree with our policies, please consider subscribing to our eNewsletter or joining.
Note, SAP does not have a policy on every new government announcement or issue. For issues outside of our broad policy platform, see policy statement at the bottom of this page.
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Australians
Policy: Prioritise and improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. | More
Ageing
Policy: Better respect our senior citizens and work to improve their quality of life, while celebrating Australia’s increasing life expectancy as a sign of a successful society. | More
Animals & Biodiversity
Policy: Properly protect animal habitats and welfare, and Australia's biodiversity, thereby ultimately benefit humanity and fulfil our moral obligation to leave room for the countless other species that also have a right to exist. | More
Anti-corruption & Governance
Policy: Prioritise trust, transparency and democracy in governance, particularly to help stop corruption. | More
The Arts
Policy: Better support the arts to allow all Australians to fulfil their creative potential. | More
Defence
Policy: Maintain a strong and technologically advanced defence force to counter likely threats, while helping to maintain regional and global peace and security. | More
Economy
Policy: Advance social wellbeing via a prosperous, diverse and equitable economy with secure jobs for all who want them, while acknowledging and working within safe environmental limits. | More
Education
Policy: Provide an affordable, world class education system that gives all Australians the skills and attributes they need to secure jobs and flourish in society. | More
Energy
Policy: Provide an energy supply that is smart, affordable, reliable, safe and environmentally sustainable. | More
Environment
Policy: Recognise that a healthy natural environment is the foundation upon which all human wellbeing and prosperity is built, and so prioritise environmental sustainability to better protect, manage and restore Australia's fragile and unique natural environment. | More
Finite & Non-renewable Resources
Policy: Properly manage Australia's finite resources – both renewable and non-renewable - so as to better protect our environment, enhance economic and social security, encourage the highest priority uses and leave a fair share for future generations of Australians. | More
Foreign Investment
Policy: Ensure that all foreign investment is in the long-term national interest, while stopping further foreign ownership. | More
Gambling
Policy: Better manage problem gambling and reduce per capita losses. | More
Health
Policy: Achieve a healthy and long living Australian population, supported by an innovative and universal health system. | More
Housing Affordability
Policy: Achieve greater housing affordability for home buyers and renters, while striving for relatively stable house prices. | More
Job Guarantee
Policy: Establish a federally funded national job guarantee program in order to ensure full employment, managed through the re-established Commonwealth Employment Service (CES), and initially focused on protecting and restoring Australia’s environment. | More
Law & Order
Policy: Better provide for the security of Australia's citizens and community, while improving our justice system. | More
Media
Policy: Achieve an independent, trustworthy and diverse media industry. | More
Planning & Development
Policy: Achieve a transparent, democratic and environmentally sustainable town and urban planning system that will stop overdevelopment of both high-rise density and sprawl, while properly protecting our built heritage, backyards and urban amenity. | More
Privatisation & Public Assets
Policy: Retain, and where appropriate regain, public ownership of Australia’s key public assets, particularly natural monopolies, in order to serve the broader public and national interests. | More
Regional & Rural Australia
Policy: Better support regional and rural Australia with a fairer share of government resources and services. | More
Science
Policy: Better fund and support pure and applied science, with a key focus being the creation of a sustainable society. | More
Sustainable Population & Immigration (Australia)
Policy: Based on the best scientific advice and as a positive example to the rest of the world, stabilise Australia's population size as soon as practicable, aiming for a population target under 30 million through to and beyond 2050. | More
Sustainable Population (Global)
Policy: Provide leadership and support to countries experiencing rapid population growth, in order to help stabilise global population as soon as practicable, being at the United Nation’s low peak variant of around 9 billion by 2050. | More
Taxation
Policy: Implement a simpler and fairer tax system. | More
Trade
Policy: Partake in the global economy through fair trade that allows a level playing field for Australian workers and businesses, while properly protecting Australia’s environment from overdevelopment. | More
Transport
Policy: Prioritise the most ecologically sustainable and congestion-free public and private transport systems. | More
Waste
Policy: Significantly reduce Australia's waste production, and increase its recycling and energy recovery through a circular economy. | More
Water
Policy: Better manage and conserve our water in urban and regional areas. | More
Welfare
Policy: Better protect and support the most vulnerable Australians, while prioritising fairness and lowering levels of wealth inequality. | More
Conscience Votes
Policy: Allow elected MPs and Councillors more freedom than major political parties do on matters of conscience. | More
Statement regarding issues outside of our policy platform:
As outlined above, Sustainable Australia Party supports a science and evidence-based approach to policy - not a left or right wing ideology.
We have developed a broad policy platform, however, as a minor party with limited resources, we do not have a policy on everything. For example, we do not have a policy on every new government announcement including the latest and ever-changing COVID-related laws in various states and territories (although we have a broader position on immunisation in our Health policy).
If elected, issues and legislation outside of our policy platform would be properly reviewed and addressed on its merits, in a science and evidence-based way through appropriate stakeholder engagement - including with a range of experts, the community and our party members.
Direct democracy
Most importantly, SAP supports Swiss-style direct democracy through our 'Anti-Corruption & Governance' policy, where the community has the right to the final say on any issue based on citizen-initiated referenda.