- The Environment Minister has introduced legislation into Parliament which changes Australia’s national environment laws
- However, the legislation has been rubbished by environmental groups, Labor and Greens MP’s who argue the new legislation fails to actually protect the environment
- But Sussan Ley, argues all of the amendments tabled will help revive businesses by allowing states and territories to carry out environmental impact assessments and take control of conservation efforts
- A review on Australia’s wider environmental laws is still pending, meaning the Government may amend the Bill following the review’s results
- However, the Morrison Government is believed to have the numbers to pass the amendments — with or without anyone else’s support
Environment Minister Sussan Ley has introduced new legislation into Australian Parliament which significantly changes Australia’s environment laws.
A number of Bills were tabled, all focused on handing responsibility for environmental approvals, protecting species and wider conservation back to the states and territories.
The Environment Minister argues these changes would revitalise business by essentially cutting red tape.
“These reforms unlock job-creating projects that will strengthen the economy and aid our COVID-19 economic recovery, without compromising Australia’s unique environment,” she said.
However, environmental groups have strongly criticised the amendments, as have Opposition Labor and Greens MPs.
The Australian Conservation Foundation argues pushing through these amendments would leave the nation’s environment worse-off.
“The bill introduced to federal parliament today is almost identical to the Abbott Government’s one-stop-shop legislation, which was panned by the public and dismissed by the Senate in 2014,” ACF CEO Kelly O’Shanassy said.
“By rushing to hand over federal approval powers to the states and territories without fixing the broader issues, the Government will simply fast-track extinctions,” she added.
Critics of the legislation also argue the Government should wait for a report into Australia’s environment laws to wrap up before it makes any changes.
Graeme Samuel is reviewing the nation’s environmental law, with an interim report released by him finding there was a need for more enforceable and robust standards.
He also called for an independent body to oversee enforcing the law, a change which the Environment Minister has outright rejected.
The Morrison Government has promised to amend their legislation once his review finishes, but it already has the numbers needed to push through its current amendments without changing them further.
The Conservation Foundation’s CEO said while it’s unlikely, she does hope the Government takes pause to consider the damage its current amendments will have on Australia’s environment.
“This is a moment in time when our elected representatives need to stand up for Australia’s unique wildlife,” Kelly said.
“Rushing in bad law before the Samuel review is complete would create a regulatory mess that further erodes trust in the review process and risks leaving a damaging legacy,” she concluded.