EPA Now!

Nature needs national protection

It’s time to take the politics out of environment protection.

For too long, the fate of our nation’s unique and special environment has been reliant on the whim of politicians and we now have over 2000 animal and plant species facing extinction. Currently the Environment Minister chooses what developments (like mines and infrastructure projects) go ahead and what protections nature is given. Unfortunately, this means our koalas, gliders and bushland often lose to the power of the big end of town!

That’s why we need a strong and independent Environment Protection Authority – to take the politics out of environmental decision making.

Decision making under an EPA should be controlled by clear laws and the best science – not politics.

We are a wealthy country, with an amazing natural heritage from the Great Barrier Reef to Uluru, right across to the Pilbura; we should have a world class approach to protecting these natural wonders while building a strong and prosperous economy.

Instead we are a world leader in clearing the bush and animal extinction.

We need to do better.

A well-resourced, empowered and independent EPA can make the difference.

A federal independent EPA would:

• Be an expert regulator, taking the politics out of decision-making by applying the law in an objective way.
• Review and advise on National Environmental Standards to the Parliament. These Standards would ensure there is clarity on how Federal environmental decisions are made – something totally lacking in our current Federal environment laws.
• Provide transparency to decision making, by publishing details of decision
• Deliver efficiency, armed with proper rules and expert regulatory expertise, business would be given a quick NO and a much quicker YES to development proposals. This will provide a significant productivity gain, as the current lack of clarity slows things down.
• Prosecute those breaking the law. Compliance and enforcement of national laws would be a much higher priority with an independent EPA.