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Federal government accused of watering down proposal to protect Australia’s threatened species and ecosystems
TL;DR
Green groups accuse the Albanese government of diluting a proposal aimed at protecting Australia's threatened species and ecosystems. The latest draft standards for national environmental significance have faced criticism for lacking specific environmental objectives.
Key points
- Green groups accuse the Albanese government of watering down proposals
- National environmental standards are key reforms for nature laws
- The government consulted on a draft standard for significant projects
- Criticism focuses on the removal of specific environmental objectives
Green groups have accused the Albanese government of watering down a proposal to protect threatened species and ecosystems.
National environmental standards were the key plank of reforms to Australia’s nature laws, passed by the parliament in November.
The government has been consulting on a draft standard for projects of national environmental significance, including endangered wildlife, world heritage areas and the great barrier reef.
Environmentalists have criticised the latest draft which they say removes the requirement for developments to meet specific environmental objectives.
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Changes to the draft standard, released Thursday, would mean developers would be considered to have met the objectives if they follow certain processes or “principles” in their environmental assessments – rather than directly demonstrating the required environmental outcomes can be met.
The Wilderness Society said the changes undermined the intent of national standards, which was to reverse the decline of plants, animals and ecosystems.
“The draft standard is a step backwards and will not protect wildlife from extinction or stop the destruction of forests,” biodiversity policy and campaign manager, Melanie Audrey, said.
Audrey said the draft standard for matters of national environmental significance was “riddled with weak language, loopholes and fails to set clear red lines to protect nature”.
WWF-Australia said the latest version of the standard was weaker than the first draft released last year and further removed from the clear, measurable standards proposed by Graeme Samuel.
The former competition watchdog chair’s 2020 review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act found Australia’s laws had failed nature in part because they were too process-focused. The review recommended national standards that mandated measurable outcomes for the environment to turn the decline around.
Release of the draft standard comes in the same week that Anthony Albanese used a mining conference in Western Australia to announce $45m for state and territory governments to advance plans to allow them to make decisions on federal environmental assessments.
Q&A
What changes did the Albanese government make to environmental protection proposals?
The Albanese government has been accused of watering down the proposal by removing specific environmental objectives from the draft standards.
What are the national environmental standards in Australia?
National environmental standards are key reforms aimed at protecting threatened species and ecosystems, including endangered wildlife and world heritage areas.
Why are environmentalists criticizing the government's draft standards?
Environmentalists criticize the draft standards for eliminating the requirement for developments to meet specific environmental objectives, which they believe undermines protection efforts.
What projects are affected by the national environmental standards in Australia?
The national environmental standards impact projects of national environmental significance, including those related to endangered wildlife, world heritage areas, and the Great Barrier Reef.
