In 2024, the Australian Government is reforming our failing national nature laws. Let's lend our voices to Australia's threatened animals and plants and secure strong laws to protect them:
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Complete the survey on the Australian government’s website to speak up for strong nature laws.
- Fill in the green form on this page to log it so we can track our collective impact.
The survey closes on Saturday 30 March – get in quick!
Example survey responses
Q1 Which option best describes your overall level of support for Australia's new Nature Positive laws as described in the webinar?
- Choose the answer that resonates with you. If you don’t yet know a lot about the proposed laws, or if you didn't attend one of the government's webinars, you can simply choose ‘neutral’.
Q2 Please select which topic area you are commenting on:
Select as many (or as few) of the topics listed on the government's website. By selecting a topic, a box will appear for you to write your thoughts on the topic.
Below are talking points for some of the topics listed, to help with your survey response:
Click to expand a topic.
[toggle-tab id="toggle-1" more-text="National Environmental Standards" less-text="Hide National Environmental Standards"]
[toggle-1]
- Strong and enforceable standards must be the foundation of the reforms of our national environment laws, so that the focus is on real outcomes for the protection of nature, not just process.
- The new laws must halt nature destruction and help threatened species recover. Clear “red-lines” to prevent unacceptable impact on threatened species and other protected matters are essential.
- All industries must be held accountable to meeting the standards, including removing the exemption for native forest logging under Regional Forest Agreements.
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[toggle-tab id="toggle-2" more-text="Climate Change" less-text="Hide Climate Change"]
[toggle-2]
- New laws must protect nature by rejecting projects that cause climate harm, increasing protections for ecosystems that absorb carbon, and ensuring that the laws are capable of responding to climate change impacts.
- Climate change, fuelled by coal and gas projects approved under the current Act, is a key threat to Australia’s wildlife and places. A project's total climate impacts, including emissions caused by Australian gas and coal being burnt overseas (scope 3 emissions) needs to be taken into account when proposals are assessed.
[/toggle-2]
[toggle-tab id="toggle-3" more-text="Community Engagement" less-text="Hide Community Engagement"]
[toggle-3]
- New laws must include provisions for the public to be provided with timely access to information, support meaningful participation in decision making, and ensure communities’ right to challenge decisions and enforce the law.
- The reforms must support public trust and confidence that the new laws will protect nature, and that communities who care about nature can have their voices heard.
[/toggle-3]
[toggle-tab id="toggle-4" more-text="Conservation Planning" less-text="Hide Conservation Planning"]
[toggle-4]
- Proposed new Recovery Strategies must set out a clear and accountable plan for saving threatened species and ecological communities.
- Recovery strategies must identify important habitat and this should be protected.
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[toggle-tab id="toggle-5" more-text="Environment Information Australia" less-text="Hide Environment Information Australia"]
[toggle-5]
- The new assessment system must provide clear opportunities for community engagement and participation.
- Offsets should be a genuine last resort. Payments as an alternative to like-for-like offsets should not be allowed.
[/toggle-5]
[toggle-tab id="toggle-6" more-text="Environment Protection Australia" less-text="Hide Environment Protection Australia"]
[toggle-6]
- Nature needs a truly independent and well-funded environmental regulator. It should have broad powers to undertake assessments, make decisions free from political interference, ensure the environmental standards are enforced, and crack down on breaches of the law.
- The EPA’s role must not be undermined by giving the Environment Minister ‘call in’ powers to take over a project’s assessment from the EPA, and apply a lower standard of environmental protection.
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[toggle-tab id="toggle-7" more-text="Other" less-text="Hide Other"]
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- Australia’s national environmental laws are broken and need fundamental reform. The development of these reforms needs to be given urgent priority.
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Q3 Would you like to be included on a mailing list for future updates on the new Nature Positive laws?
- Select yes on no, depending on your preference.
The next page gives you the option to attach a file if you want to submit a lengthy submission, or if you want to upload documents to accompany your survey responses.
Then, the final page lets you submit your survey response!
Further reading:
Blog post: what nature needs from the Albanese Government
Blog post: Where the Albanese Government's plans fall short, 20 March 2024
Header: Kerry Trapnell