What's left of sustainable development?

This article explores the emergence and transformation of the sustainability discourse in the aftermath of the post-war boom and growth of neoliberalism in Australia. It reflects on the way in which the state of play has evolved in the country. It also assesses whether or not sustainable development is a useful concept for the achievement of ecological sustainability. The way in which the economy-environment problematic was re-conceptualized during the period is analyzed. The article concludes by explaining the influence of the imperatives of capital accumulation on environmental priorities