The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is being reviewed. I’ve made a submission to the review, headed by former competition regulator chief Graeme Samuel, that the Federal Government must strengthen the laws to stop the destruction of our environment and biodiversity.
It’s disappointing then that in the middle of this independent look at the country’s environment laws, the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has flagged legislative changes to fast-track projects. The tradition of hasty handshake deals behind closed doors between developers and politicians must end. The overarching principle of the EPBC act must be the protection of Australia’s environment and biodiversity.