Last night's passing of amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act weakens the protection of our natural treasures, rammed through by a government which promised greater protection.
The amendments increase the likelihood that Australian native species will become extinct, driven by a government which promised no extinctions under its watch.
The amendments are designed to protect the destructive, foreign-owned commercial salmon industry in Tasmania.
But the changes could stop anyone – from local community groups to Federal Government Ministers – from reviewing projects like coal mines, gas exploration, land clearing or other destructive practices.
"This bill has ramifications for industries that goes well beyond salmon. It will affect all industries governed by this legislation," said Eloise Carr, Director, The Australia Institute Tasmania.
"Labor and Coalition MPs described what they were trying to achieve as 'fixing a flaw' in the EPBC Act. There was no flaw in the law.
"For once, just as our nature law was about to do what it is supposed to - protect world heritage and species threatened with extinction - the major parties have changed the law.
"We have a parliamentary process to scrutinise laws before they pass. But not this time."
Ten years ago, Anthony Albanese described similar changes proposed by the coalition government as an act of environmental vandalism.
"Now, Anthony Albanese and his government have committed environmental vandalism," said Eloise Carr.
As if all that isn't bad enough, the amendments have been so poorly drafted – and so devoid of scrutiny – they may not stand up to a court challenge.
"The bill is so poorly drafted that it risks not even applying to the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour. Legal challenges are almost guaranteed," said David Barnden, Principal Lawyer at Sydney litigation firm Equity Generation Lawyers.
