This review is a golden opportunity for the Morrison Government to create strong laws that actually protect Australia’s precious natural world.
In response to the Federal Government’s announcement about the review of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, Basha Stasak, Nature Campaign Manager at the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), said:
“This review is a golden opportunity for the Morrison Government to create strong laws that actually protect Australia’s precious natural world and leave a positive legacy to last for generations.
“Any observer can see our current environment laws are not properly safeguarding our native species and critical ecosystems.
“In the 20 years these laws have been operating, an area of threatened species habitat has been destroyed that is collectively larger than all of Tasmania.
“Australia has the unenviable title of being a world leader in mammal extinctions, and many more of our precious native species are facing wipe out in the coming decades.
“Even Australian species that were once considered common – including much-loved animals like koalas and bandicoots – are now in trouble in many parts of the country.
“This week almost 250 concerned scientists urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to strengthen our national environment laws to help halt Australia’s extinction crisis.
“This review must be seen through the lens of our extinction crisis. In that light we are disappointed the review panel does not include a conservation scientist.
“Nonetheless, ACF looks forward to working with review chair Graeme Samuel and the panel to ensure our country grasps the opportunity this review offers, listens to the science, halts the extinction crisis and leaves an environmental legacy Australians can take pride in.”
