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AUSTRALIA
23 June 2015
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Sustainable Development Goals and targets
Statement by Kushla Munro, Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(check against delivery)
Thank you.
I would like to begin by reiterating our thanks to the co-facilitators for their guidance on this important work work which will undoubtedly help us to present the best possible targets to our leaders and the world in September.
In the interests of time, I will keep this intervention short and to the point.
On the target revisions proposed in Annex I, Australia could accept the 21 targets with some minor amendments to two targets targets 3.b. and 17.2 to bring them into line with existing international agreements. By removing ambiguity and adjusting language to align with existing international agreements, we will undoubtedly strengthen the targets.
Mr Co-facilitators, examining the targets is a critical conversation.
The lasting impact of these targets for millions of people means we must ensure they are ambitious, relevant and implementable.
Finally, as we have said previously, the Sustainable Development Goals Open Working Group chapeau and reservations should not form part of the final outcome document.
