Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

I am deeply concerned by the Liberal Natioinal Government’s horrendous record of environmental mismanagement.

The Liberals and Nationals have cut the environment department by an estimated 40 per cent since they came to government. They have failed to implement recovery plans for threatened species, with estimates that fewer than 40 per cent have a national recovery plan, and the government is clueless about whether existing plans are being implemented.

Australian wildlife is on the brink and Australia is facing an extinction crisis.

During last summer’s bushfire crisis more than 3 billion animals perished, 12 million hectares of land burned, lives, homes and livelihoods were lost, but the federal government is missing in action on bushfire recovery.

The Labor Party called for a National Ecological Audit  in January in response to the bushfire ecological crisis.

Labor has also demanded more be done to protect native species and tougher penalties implemented for breaches of the law where deaths occur.

It is important that our environmental laws protect the environment. The EPBC needs to be strengthened, not weakened.

Australia can’t afford to allow the alarming environmental decline that we have seen under the Liberals and Nationals.

Instead of proposing laws that are in line with their own independent review, led by Professor Graham Samuel, this bill would see more major project job delays, more investment uncertainty, more conflict, less trust in decisions and worse outcomes for the environment. 
 
There are no National Environment Standards in this bill, despite those being the foundation of Professor Graeme Samuel’s proposed reforms. With no proposed standards, no independent ‘cop on the beat,’ and no additional funding for the states despite the extra responsibility, this bill is designed for political conflict.

The Labor Party has constructively engaged with the Samuel Review from the very start. Scott Morrison has very favourable conditions for reform: an Opposition that has said we will engage constructively, a well-respected Review chair who is working with leaders from agriculture, resources and business, as well as traditional owners, conservationists and academics.
 
Every major achievement in environmental protection in this nation’s history has been delivered by a Labor government.
 
Labor’s legacy in government is that we protected the Daintree, Kakadu, the Great Barrier Reef, the Franklin and Antarctica. We created Landcare, and we created what was, at the time, the largest network of marine parks in the world.

The Labor Party will continue to listen to the science and the concerns of the electorate with regard to protecting Australia’s environment.

If you would like to add your voice, I encourage you to contact the Environment Minister about your concerns. She can be contacted at:

The Hon Sussan Ley MP
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

or minister.ley@environment.gov.au.

We will continue to fight for urgent action to protect the environment.