A Socio-Legal Definition of the 'Wicked' Problem of Agricultural Diffuse Source Pollution in Queensland and Western Australia

This thesis defines the problem of agricultural diffuse source pollution in Queensland and Western Australia from a socio-legal perspective. First, it analyses empirically the interests of the four main stakeholder groups of government departments, local governments, natural resource management bodies and catchment councils, and industry organisations to define the social and institutional constraints on management. Secondly, it analyses doctrinally how Queensland and Western Australia’s land use planning systems have responded to the conflicting interests. In combination, this offers an explanation as to why the problem persists, which lays the groundwork for identifying and evaluating resolutions.