International Ecological Policy Vektor of Australia in 1979s

The main object of the research is to identify the features of the formative stage of the external vector of Australian environmental policy, which dates back to the 1970s. Methodology of the research is based on an analysis of documents of the Australian Parliament, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Water, Agriculture and Environment. It is found that by the early 1970s, Australia had adopted the first international agreements that formed the basis for the further development of its multilateral environmental cooperation. During this period, various mechanisms and models of multilateral cooperation were developed. The role of United Nations Conference on the Environment held in Stockholm in 1972 in the development of a new level of international environmental cooperation is revealed. It is proven that a number of environmental problems has been has exacerbated in Australia. This led to the country’s need for a broad exchange of information with other countries of the world in order to overcome them and to join forces more closely to combat them. By this time in Australia, at both the federal and state levels, government agencies responsible for implementing environmental policies were established. This facilitated the coordination of the internal and external vector of environmental activities. It is concluded that after this conference, in the 1970s, the period of formation of the international vector of Australian environmental policy began. This is justified by the fact that it was based on new principles and background and included new directions. Its peculiarity is demonstrated. It is emphasized on the important role played by the Australian Parliament in the implementation of international agreements