The memories of one of EPA Victoria’s pre-eminent leaders has been penned by his Executive at the time of his service. Current EPA Chair Cheryl Batagol adds her thoughts as well.
2014 marks ten years since the untimely death of Dr Brian Robinson, AM, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) from 1986-2002.
Brian recognised and realised the power of the forward looking Environment Protection Act passed by the Bolte Government in 1970. This Act established Australia’s and one of the world’s first independent statutory agencies focused on tackling the legacy of industrial pollution and driving ecologically sustainable development.
Brian hailed from Northern Ireland (where one of his Victorian protégées Terry A’hearn currently leads the environment agency) and was ever a scientist with a doctorate in chemistry and a strong belief in evidence. However, Brian’s mind was broad ranging and analytical – as comfortable considering social, political and economic as ecological systems. He was profoundly influenced by his experiences working as an industrial chemist for DuPont where he recognised that wastes, when considered resources, could be avoided or reused for both economic and environmental benefit.
From 1975, Brian worked in EPA as Laboratory Services Co-ordinator, then Chief Air Quality officer and ultimately as Chairman. His rapid rise and long tenure in the complex and contested EPA arena demonstrated his value to successive governments and the wide respect he was held in within the Victorian community.
Brian was foremost a visionary and strategic leader who started from a strong policy position, with a tenacious focus on environmental outcomes and a scepticism of ideological extremes - though I remember him counselling me “change does not come from the centre”. Brian believed that integrated social, economic and environmental outcomes were necessary to achieve sustainable development – embodied in his work on the influential and enduring 1992 COAG InterGovernmental Agreement on the Environment.
Brian had an unwavering commitment to serving the community. For example, he required his executive to regularly man EPA’s 24 hour pollution complaints line – a visceral reminder of the impacts of pollution on Victorian’s lives. He also championed innovative models of direct dialogue between community and company representatives to build mutual understanding and accountability.
A regulator of integrity and courage – key statutory decisions rested with him - Brian fought for stronger offences, penalties and enforcement tools, including at times with the judiciary. As a key example, Brian successfully argued for Directors’ liabilities so that company Boards could not duck environmental responsibilities.
Nevertheless, Brian saw the benefits of moving industry ‘beyond compliance’, harnessing the innovation and drive of the private sector to achieve ‘cleaner production’ which could ultimately achieve far more for the environment than a ‘command and control’ regulatory approach. He engaged economists and accountants in valuing the environment. He strongly supported industry self-regulation and recognition of good environmental performers.
Brian never felt EPA’s influence should be confined to a small southern hemisphere region. The model for establishing national environment protection measures throughout Australian jurisdictions is squarely based on the open, outcome focused and cost-benefit driven Victorian model. Victoria’s approach to successfully tackling, in partnership with affected industries, global depletion of the ozone layer, was ultimately adopted not just nationally but internationally as has been recognised by the United Nations.
Under Brian Robinson’s leadership, Victoria’s air and water quality improved substantially, kerbside recycling and industrial waste strategies were established and contaminated land was increasingly cleaned up and redeveloped.
Perhaps Brian’s most important legacy is the people who continue his work, including the current Chairman of Environment Protection Authority, Cheryl Batagol who Brian identified as a potential champion in Victoria’s waste sector and who asked me to initiate this reminiscence.
Brian inspired and enabled a strong multi-disciplinary team to help EPA achieve much within the limited resources of a small statutory agency. While seemingly intellectual and genteel on the surface, he had a wicked, black Irish sense of humour (and love of whiskey) and enjoyed being challenged by a variety of views and perspectives. He liked and mentored young people, took risks in appointments and supported women like me, including in juggling work and family commitments, before it was either fashionable or required.
Dr Brian Robinson died in 2004 too soon after retirement, and is sorely missed by his wife, three children, of whom he was immensely proud, family, friends and former colleagues, some of whom share further reminiscences below.
- Jennifer Wolcott
Brian very much believed in the value of a media presence to advance the objectives of EPA. He was always open to journalists and reporters -- both those who were understanding of EPA’s role and those who simply wanted to sensationalise difficult issues. This openness and presence extended equally to local and national media. He revelled in the intellectual argument with the press and other media which sometimes meant that even the lesser of issues received more than their share of coverage. In times when current affairs programs ruled the airwaves Brian always made himself available to be “grilled”. He earned the respect of the media sector, political masters, the community, and from within the organisation for this leadership. A fitting tribute and one which Brian valued dearly was a cartoon in the metropolitan press which conveyed a lead contaminated site as a potential mining resource—I think he felt he had got his message across!
- Dennis Monahan
Brian was aware of the limitations of a regulatory approach, viewing regulations as a necessary but not sufficient basis for protecting the environment. He was a strong advocate of moving industry ‘beyond compliance’ to achieve high levels of environmental performance and improved economic outcomes. Companies that consistently achieved a high level of environmental performance were rewarded through an accreditation system that allowed for less prescription and greatly increased flexibility for companies in achieving agreed environmental outcomes.
Brian was a strong advocate of nationally consistent approaches to environmental standards, policies and programmes in areas such as motor vehicles emissions, health based air quality objectives and management of hazardous wastes. He was instrumental in establishing the ministerial National Environment Protection Council, the body charged with developing National Environment Protection Measures. Victoria was the first Australian jurisdiction to partner with affected industries to develop a comprehensive approach to protection of the ozone layer, combining progressive mandatory phase out of ozone depleting substances with education and incentive programmes.
- Robert Joy
I first met Brian in the late 1980’s when the Dandenong Offensive Industries Zone came under sustained community pressure as a result of the poor performance of some of the industries located in the area. I was co-managing a family waste business along with my father, brother and sister. Brian encouraged me to engage actively with the community and develop relationships with other industries in the zone with a view to lifting the performance and image of this important industrial area. This was the pathway to the role I have now as Chairman of EPA Victoria. Having lifted my sights to the interaction between companies and between companies and the community, I understood that my own company not only needed an EPA licence but a community “licence to operate” as well. This was a life changing period in my journey. I became an advocate for the coexistence of good performing businesses and their local communities. All of the work I have done since has been influenced by this philosophy. Through Brian’s intervention I was appointed to the Environment Protection Council (it’s successor is the Environment Protection Board) by the Victorian Government in 1995. This appointment led to my 1996 appointment to the inaugural board of Eco-Recycle Victoria, the predecessor for Sustainability Victoria.
Brian’s mentorship of me at a critical time in my life was life changing. I remember most his intellect, his wisdom and his values. Standing in his shoes, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to the protection of the environment and the community. I know he would strongly endorse the vision we have at EPA Victoria of a healthy environment supporting a liveable and prosperous Victoria. I know also that his contribution towards that vision is immeasurable. Vale Brian.
- Cheryl Batagol