Public sector understanding of sustainable development and the sustainable development goals: A case study of Victoria, Australia

Sustainable development ('SD') is a longstanding internationally accepted and adopted policy concept, but little is known about how well it is understood and applied by public decision-makers. This article enhances that understanding by empirically examining public servant experiences within the State of Victoria, Australia. Thematic and statistical analyses of 35 semi-structured interviews and 97 online survey responses yield seven key insights: (1) SD is more widely understood than the associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), although variable understandings exist for both, and participants indicate neither are being widely or consistently implemented; (2) Definitions of SD are inconsistent, and a holistic understanding of the concept is absent within some decision-makers' intuitive thinking, but potential for consensus exists; (3) Applications and interpretations of the polluter pays and precautionary principles of sustainable development are similarly varied; (4) Legislative and institutional structures are likely contributing to the latter findings; (5) Implementation is considerably impacted upon by heuristics and framing; (6) Leadership is recognised as a necessary catalyst for the achievement of the SDGs within Victoria; and, encouragingly, (7) public decision-makers possess many ideas for enhancing intergenerational equity, and overall decision-making effectiveness. These novel insights illustrate sustainable development is not being consistently considered or achieved by public decision-makers in Victoria, and that solutions can and must be identified and implemented to achieve the 'future we want'.