Interim standards proposed by the government look nothing like those put forward in the final report of a once-a-decade review of national environmental laws. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA
The Morrison government is preparing to reject a recommendation it introduce strong national environmental standards to improve protection of Australian wildlife, opting to instead mimic the failing existing laws.
A document, seen by Guardian Australia, sets out the proposed standards the government will introduce to underpin its plan to transfer environmental decision-making powers to state and territory governments.
The standards have been given to Senate crossbenchers, as well as industry and environment groups, as the government looks to build support for its environmental streamlining bill in the Senate.
Kangaroos on the NSW south coast. The federal government is yet to release its response to Graeme Samuel’s damning report on the state of the environmental systems meant to protect Australia’s wildlife. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP
A key independent senator says he will not support a government plan to shift environmental approval powers to the states before the Coalition responds to a “scathing” review of conservation laws.
Rex Patrick said the final report of the review into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act was damning about the state of systems meant to protect Australia’s wildlife.
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A tough test of the Morrison governmentâs environment credentials looms after a major report on national conservation laws called for urgent reforms to prevent further extinction of Australiaâs wildlife.
Former competition watchdog Graeme Samuel handed down his final report from his review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act on Thursday afternoon and highlighted the situation facing the government.
âTo shy away from the fundamental reforms recommended by this review is to accept the continued decline of our iconic places and the extinction of our most threatened plants, animals and ecosystems,â he said in the reportâs introduction.
Australian seafood consumers urged to stop buying flake to protect sharks | Australia news | The Guardian Australian seafood consumers urged to stop buying flake to protect sharks A new campaign highlights there is no legal obligation to label flake – a common term for shark meat – by species or where it’s from Australian…
Australian consumers will be encouraged not to purchase flake when they shop for seafood and to instead try sustainable alternatives in a new campaign that aims to put a spotlight on laws that permit the harvest of endangered sharks. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) is asking consumers to “give flake a break” because there is no legal obligation in Australia for retailers to label flake – a common term used for shark meat – by.