Nature Laws Report Card
Last updated: 28 FEB 2024
Legend:
✅ = Government has made a commitment/statement to which we give our approval
👍 = There is progress, but more work needs to be done
❔ = Either there has been no progress or we need more information
❌ = We are not happy with this commitment/statement
✅ The Government has publicly committed to no new extinctions
✅ The Government has committed internationally to protecting 30% of Australia’s land and sea by 2030
👍 The Government released the Threatened Species Action Plan, which sets objectives and targets to conserve and recover 110 priority species (22 birds) and 20 places
❔ The Threatened Species Action Plan is a welcome initiative, but every one of over 2,000 threatened animals and plants must have a legally-binding and effective plan for recovery and conservation, and the Government must increase funding substantially to enable implementation
✅ The Government is currently drafting legally enforceable standards that will be included in the legislation to be introduced to Parliament this year
✅ These draft standards include new rules for protecting Matters of National Environmental Significance (e.g. threatened species, World Heritage Areas)
❔ These new standards, in order to halt the destruction of habitat critical to the survival of threatened species, must be rules-based and rigorous, unlike the current laws, and the new scheme must be adequately funded to enable it to succeed
❔ The Government’s proposed “restoration actions” (offsets renamed) and “restoration payments” scheme must be designed, implemented and monitored to ensure that it delivers real positive environmental outcomes, rather than facilitating the destruction of critical habitat and loss of threatened species.
✅ The Government has committed to establishing and funding the new agency known as Environment Protection Australia (EPA)
✅ EPA will be responsible for deciding whether major projects and developments are approved and will monitor and enforce the new standards
❔ The Government must ensure adequate funding for the EPA to be effective
❌ The Minister will retain a general discretion to exempt a proposal from the legislation or make decisions, and these decisions do not need to comply with environmental laws
❌ The EPA CEO would be appointed by the Minister and there would be no independent board, raising serious concerns about the future EPA’s independence
✅ The Government will establish Environment Information Australia (EIA), to maintain a data portal, manage reporting information, and advise on Australia’s environmental performance
✅ The EIA will collate information in one place including species’ distributions & sightings to inform science-based decisions
❔ The Government has announced a new standard for community engagement and consultation, but it needs to be strengthened to ensure meaningful community consultation and participation in environmental decision-making
❌ The Government has ruled out the community’s ability to initiate a legal ‘merits review’ of project approvals to ensure that the correct decisions are being made
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Image Credits: Helmeted Honeyeater by Andrew Silcocks