Select Committee on the Metric System of Weights and Measures
Select Committee on Securities and Exchange
The air pollution committee tabled its report first, finding in September 1969 that Australia’s air pollution problem had been exacerbated by industrial and motor vehicle emissions and had not been significantly improved by clean air legislation enacted in most Australian states.
The water pollution committee’s June 1970 report concluded that water pollution, chiefly caused by sewage, industrial waste and salinity, had reached crisis proportions throughout Australia. Some waterways were so polluted they could only be used as sewers. Across Australia’s states, water quality control legislation showed ‘a remarkable lack of cohesion bordering on the chaotic’.
Both committees advocated that the Commonwealth coordinate development of more comprehensive environmental protection legislation across all states and territories and establish two national research organisations. While these recommendations were not accepted by the Commonwealth government, state governments, who had constitutional responsibility for pollution, hurried to adopt better laws.
The committees’ reports contributed to greater public and government awareness of environmental issues and are regarded as ‘extremely influential in the development of Australian pollution legislation’.
Gordon Davidson, 1979, Australian Information Service, NAA:A8746, KN6/7/79/51
Senator Gordon Davidson chaired the water pollution committee. His 1970 report was described by The Bulletin as ‘the standard reference on the subject and an eloquent as well as expert piece of work’.
Days before Davidson tabled the report, the Senate began debating the establishment of the standing committee system. Speaking in support, Davidson said he had found that committee work resulted in ‘a better informed Senate, a better informed member of the Senate and a better informed public’.

Gordon Davidson, 1979, Australian Information Service, NAA:A8746, KN6/7/79/51
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Establishment of the select committee: Denham Henty, Senator for Tasmania 1950-68, Interview with Suzanne Lunney, 1974 National Library of Australia, TRC 309, session 1, 00:43:20-00:45:36. |
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The reaction of state governments to the inquiry: Gordon Sinclair Davidson, water pollution committee chair 1968-70, Interview with Bruce Edwards, 1984-86 National Library of Australia, TRC 4900/41, session 43, 00:08:42-00:12:28. |
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Site visits of the committee: Gordon Sinclair Davidson, water pollution committee chair 1968-70, Interview with Bruce Edwards, 1984-86 National Library of Australia, TRC 4900/41, session 49, 00:02:14-00:05:17. |
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The report’s conclusions: Gordon Sinclair Davidson, water pollution committee chair 1968-70, Interview with Bruce Edwards, 1984-86 National Library of Australia, TRC 4900/41, session 49, 00:22:39-00:24:51. |
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Contribution of committee members: Tony Mulvihill, Water Pollution committee member, Interview with Ron Hurst, 1985 National Library of Australia, TRC 4900/77, session 28, 00:10:44-00:12:12. |