HSI Australia has welcomed the release of the Senate inquiry's report into the Government's proposed Nature Positive laws and stresses that the Albanese Government must work together with the Greens and independent senators to deliver a strong EPA and close critical gaps in current legislation.
The current Bills, to create a new Environment Protection Australia (EPA), a new data agency Environment Information Australia, and to significantly increase penalties for breaches of existing laws, could, if appropriately strengthened, deliver an important foundation for the broader reform that our nature laws urgently need.
Head of Campaigns for HSI Australia, Ms Nicola Beynon, said, "In the past week, we have seen even more wildlife added to the more than 2,000 threatened species that are already at risk. Nature desperately needs stronger laws and an independent EPA that will stand up to vested interests to halt and reverse our extinction crisis.
"That's why today we are calling on the Albanese Government to work together with the Greens and independent senators to deliver a strong EPA and Environment Information Australia and better protections for our environment in the current term of Parliament.
"The release of the Senate inquiry report is an important milestone for this legislation. It shows that the Government has recognised the need for improvements to current Bills and that Greens and cross bench Senators are willing to discuss how the Bills can be strengthened and passed.
"Key recommendations canvassed in the report are that the proposed EPA and Environment Information Australia must be independent and appropriately governed, and that Australia must have a legislated definition of 'nature positive' against which government decisions can be benchmarked.
"These Bills also provide the Parliament with a vital opportunity to address key gaps in the current legislation; particularly in relation to defining unacceptable impacts, including to protect critical habitat; removing inappropriate exemptions for deforestation and shark culls; respecting Indigenous knowledge and views, and addressing climate change.
"Just as importantly, these reforms must be backed by adequate funding to ensure the appropriate implementation of the laws and followed up with further reform to deliver a full package of nature positive reform."
About us:
Humane Society International (HSI) is the world's largest animal protection organisation and HSI Australia established our office in 1994. We work to create a humane and sustainable world for animals advocating across wildlife conservation and animal welfare policy areas.
