精东视频

Environmental law reforms deliver positives, but still fall short

The President of the 精东视频, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, is calling on the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, to inform his decisions with science when it comes to protecting Australia鈥檚 precious environment and biodiversity.

鈥淭he environmental law reform Bills as they currently stand will not deliver the essential reforms to the EPBC Act to protect our environment,鈥� Professor Jagadish said.

The Bills must be bolstered to address:

• the lack of strong, legislated mechanisms to embed scientific advice into decision-making
• broad ministerial discretion and the vague 鈥榥ational interest鈥� exemption that risks short-term agendas taking priority over protecting our environment
• damaging exemptions including forestry, cumulative land clearing and continuous use pathways
• the proposed biodiversity offset system that risks introducing a pathway for proponents to 鈥榩ay to destroy鈥� without ensuring gains equivalent to losses, undermining the integrity of matters of national environmental significance.

鈥淥ur environment and biodiversity are changing at a rapid rate, and urgent action is needed to halt this decline,鈥� Professor Jagadish said.

鈥淚t would be a stain on the Parliament of Australia if these environmental law reform Bills are allowed to pass in their current form.

鈥淭he Bills must be strengthened to ensure decision-making is informed by robust scientific evidence and can deliver the environmental improvements this reform seeks to achieve.

鈥淭he Academy recognises positive elements in the Bills, such as the concept of 鈥榥et gain鈥� if properly defined and enforced; the ability of the Minister of Environment to make consistent National Environmental Standards; and the establishment of the National Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Information Australia,鈥� Professor Jagadish said.