Australia needs a strong independent environmental regulator

The Biodiversity Council says that establishing a weak national environmental protection agency (EPA) would be a big mistake for the long-term livability of the country and also for the business sector.

Biodiversity Council Director James Trezise said that, “The Prime Ministers’ comments that the government is considering watering down its proposed EPA, largely at the behest of the business lobby, are deeply troubling.

“It is well established that our national environmental laws are broken. They have been slammed by the government’s own independent review as not being effective or efficient.

“The same review found that the Australian public do not have faith in our national nature laws and environmental decision making.

“Establishing an independent EPA along with robust, credible and balanced national environmental standards are key elements that are needed to restore trust and certainty to environmental decision making.

“These measures will have the capacity to deliver improved environmental decision making and business and investor certainty.

“The absence of a trusted environmental regulatory regime means that businesses and investors will face increasing risks as biodiversity declines runs up against lack of decision making certainty.

“This has been a four-year long process including a detailed independent review and lengthy consultation. Watering these commitments down will be bad for Australia’s wildlife and bad for business in the long-run.

“The Albanese Government should stick to its commitments and introduce an independent regulator that makes decisions based on robust national environmental standards.

“Australia’s business lobby is at a crossroads – they can revert to the anti-environment demons of their past or they can step up and support the transitions that will chart a path to a sustainable future for the country.”

­­­The Biodiversity Council was founded by 11 universities and brings together leading Australian experts including Indigenous Knowledge holders to promote evidence-based solutions to Australia’s biodiversity crisis.