Don't Deepen the Extinction Crisis by Rushing Reckless Law Reform
Tell your Federal MP and Senators to stop the handover of environment powers
Australia’s unique wildlife is facing an extinction crisis. We need strong laws to tackle the myriad threats they face. Instead, the Morrison Government is asking Parliament to rush through reckless legislation to hand over decision making for national environment matters to states and territories.
Already, iconic species like koalas, quolls and platypus are disappearing from our landscapes.
The legislation the Government wants Parliament to agree to sidelines a statutory review that is underway which is expected to recommend fundamental reform to strengthen our national environment law. This once in a decade chance for a stronger law is at risk and the survival of species is at stake.
Ask your Federal MP and Senators to reject the Government’s dangerous environment ‘streamlining’ bill which will increase the risk of species extinctions. Tell them that you expect legislation to have strict enforceable National Environment Standards and an independent regulator to police them.
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Dear Federal MP, Senators,
I am extremely concerned that the Morrison Government is trying to rush through amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to handover national decision-making responsibilities to states and territories.
This season’s bushfires and COVID-19 are a clear indication that a business as usual approach to nature is no longer acceptable. Yet the Morrison Government amendments will put Australia’s wildlife and habitats in further peril. The Government’s bill does not provide for enforceable National Standards nor an independent regulator to police them.
I want the Government to deliver a comprehensive package of reforms that deliver environmental laws that nature needs. This must include:
- provide strict protection for critical habitats for threatened species and deal with climate change and cumulative impacts;
- ensure that robust national environment standards are developed and in place, before making any changes to environmental decision-making;
- establish an independent regulator to ensure compliance with national environment standards; and
- require resources to be provided to secure the protection and recovery of our threatened species.
Now is not the time to weaken environmental regulations and pass laws that will have detrimental impacts on nature, but instead to ensure that our environment is put at the centre of our thinking and laws strengthened and enforced.
Yours sincerely,
