#epbcact — Public Fediverse posts

Lingering loopholes in the new national environment laws

"The federal government says it fixed Australia's 'broken' environmental laws. Koala advocates disagree."

"Environmentalists believe the EPBC Act has (Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation) allowed habitat to be gradually lost, with multiple projects approved within the same area. Habitat loss on the Redlands coast has contributed to an 80 per cent drop in koala numbers over the last 25 years." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-16/brisbane-koala-advocates-question-national-environment-laws/106748658
#EPBCAct #biodiversity #LandClearing #laws #regulation #sprawl #koalas #extinction

Lingering loopholes in the new national environment laws

"The federal government says it fixed Australia's 'broken' environmental laws. Koala advocates disagree."

"Environmentalists believe the EPBC Act has (Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation) allowed habitat to be gradually lost, with multiple projects approved within the same area. Habitat loss on the Redlands coast has contributed to an 80 per cent drop in koala numbers over the last 25 years." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-16/brisbane-koala-advocates-question-national-environment-laws/106748658
#EPBCAct #biodiversity #LandClearing #laws #regulation #sprawl #koalas #extinction

What climate pollution?
The UN to ensure Australian compliance with international law
The right to a healthy environment as mandated by international law

"A UN special rapporteur has intervened in Australia's decision to extend Woodside's North West Shelf gas project by another 40 years. Australia did not adequately consider the climate impacts of extending its largest gas project, an independent United Nations expert has told the Federal Court."

"We are living a triple planetary crisis, not only climate change, but also biodiversity loss and toxic pollution...The project's emissions — the third-highest in Australia — were likely causing irreversible damage to the World Heritage site, Murujuga, home to some of the world's oldest known rock carvings."

"As recently as last month, Australia was one of 141 countries to endorse a landmark resolution by the International Court of Justice, which found that states had a legal imperative to consider climate in their environmental impact assessments." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-04/un-special-rapporteur-woodside-north-west-shelf/106724220
#FossilFuels #climate #GHG #EPBCAct #UN #IndigenousPeoples #oilandGas #HumanRights #RockArt #FARA #biodiversity #environment #pollution #harm #burrup #Murujuga #law #RuleOfLaw

What climate pollution?
The UN to ensure Australian compliance with international law
The right to a healthy environment as mandated by international law

"A UN special rapporteur has intervened in Australia's decision to extend Woodside's North West Shelf gas project by another 40 years. Australia did not adequately consider the climate impacts of extending its largest gas project, an independent United Nations expert has told the Federal Court."

"We are living a triple planetary crisis, not only climate change, but also biodiversity loss and toxic pollution...The project's emissions — the third-highest in Australia — were likely causing irreversible damage to the World Heritage site, Murujuga, home to some of the world's oldest known rock carvings."

"As recently as last month, Australia was one of 141 countries to endorse a landmark resolution by the International Court of Justice, which found that states had a legal imperative to consider climate in their environmental impact assessments." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-04/un-special-rapporteur-woodside-north-west-shelf/106724220
#FossilFuels #climate #GHG #EPBCAct #UN #IndigenousPeoples #oilandGas #HumanRights #RockArt #FARA #biodiversity #environment #pollution #harm #burrup #Murujuga #law #RuleOfLaw

Australian environmental standards?

Australia’s old environment laws were a box‑ticking exercise. Sadly, the new ones could be too >>
https://theconversation.com/australias-old-environment-laws-were-a-box-ticking-exercise-sadly-the-new-ones-could-be-too-283069

"We're facing a deforestation crisis here in the Territory, with the bulldozers rolling in on the world's last intact tropical savanna, while the federal government looks away."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-28/claravale-land-clearing-judicial-review-environment-minister/106714566
#EPBCAct #biodiversity #conservation #BoxTicking #laws #WeakStandards #regulation #nature #offsets #extractivism #fastTack #deforestation #TropicalSavanna

Australian environmental standards?

Australia’s old environment laws were a box‑ticking exercise. Sadly, the new ones could be too >>
https://theconversation.com/australias-old-environment-laws-were-a-box-ticking-exercise-sadly-the-new-ones-could-be-too-283069

"We're facing a deforestation crisis here in the Territory, with the bulldozers rolling in on the world's last intact tropical savanna, while the federal government looks away."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-28/claravale-land-clearing-judicial-review-environment-minister/106714566
#EPBCAct #biodiversity #conservation #BoxTicking #laws #WeakStandards #regulation #nature #offsets #extractivism #fastTack #deforestation #TropicalSavanna

Australia’s environmental degradation

"One must ask why the federal government is so comfortable continuing to ignore the wishes of most Australians, and continuing to condemn our life-sustaining environment and wildlife to profound decline and destruction?"

"Experts in biodiversity and environmental law have found major flaws in the draft national standard for matters of national environmental significance.’..Market-driven nature repair projects will not help address this deficit."

"It would be a betrayal of Australia’s most important public good to settle for the mere appearance of action – we deserve the promised serious investment in our collective future." >>
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/18/australias-green-wall-street-is-failing-to-launch-threatened-species-deserve-better-than-the-nature-repair-market
#biodiversity #ecosystems #wildlife #EPBCAct #FastTack #degradation #NatureMarkets #regulation #EnvironmentalNeglect #extractivism

Australia’s environmental degradation

"One must ask why the federal government is so comfortable continuing to ignore the wishes of most Australians, and continuing to condemn our life-sustaining environment and wildlife to profound decline and destruction?"

"Experts in biodiversity and environmental law have found major flaws in the draft national standard for matters of national environmental significance.’..Market-driven nature repair projects will not help address this deficit."

"It would be a betrayal of Australia’s most important public good to settle for the mere appearance of action – we deserve the promised serious investment in our collective future." >>
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/18/australias-green-wall-street-is-failing-to-launch-threatened-species-deserve-better-than-the-nature-repair-market
#biodiversity #ecosystems #wildlife #EPBCAct #FastTack #degradation #NatureMarkets #regulation #EnvironmentalNeglect #extractivism

National environmental standards ?

"Federal government accused of watering down proposal to protect Australia’s threatened species and ecosystems."

“There’s no requirement for these processes to actually deliver the outcomes and objectives expressed in the standard.”

"...Australia’s populations of threatened species had declined, on average, by 50% over the past two decades." >>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/may/02/federal-government-accused-of-watering-down-proposal-to-protect-australias-threatened-species-and-ecosystems
#biodiversity #ecosystems #wildlife #EPBCAct #destruction #harm #extractivism #extinctions #StreamlineEnvironmentalApprovals #Australia

National environmental standards ?

"Federal government accused of watering down proposal to protect Australia’s threatened species and ecosystems."

“There’s no requirement for these processes to actually deliver the outcomes and objectives expressed in the standard.”

"...Australia’s populations of threatened species had declined, on average, by 50% over the past two decades." >>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/may/02/federal-government-accused-of-watering-down-proposal-to-protect-australias-threatened-species-and-ecosystems
#biodiversity #ecosystems #wildlife #EPBCAct #destruction #harm #extractivism #extinctions #StreamlineEnvironmentalApprovals #Australia

Reversing biodiversity decline through individual good will ?

“With a paucity of government support, philanthropy … has become an invaluable enabler for people dedicated to working for the environment.” >>

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/18/privately-protected-managed-land-australia-biodiversity-protection

#biodiversity #conservation #ecosystems #wildlife #PrivateLandholders #extinction #governance #begging #EPBCact #ArbitraryAction

Reversing biodiversity decline through individual good will ?

“With a paucity of government support, philanthropy … has become an invaluable enabler for people dedicated to working for the environment.” >>

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/18/privately-protected-managed-land-australia-biodiversity-protection

#biodiversity #conservation #ecosystems #wildlife #PrivateLandholders #extinction #governance #begging #EPBCact #ArbitraryAction

Farmer "preferred profit and commercial interest over the environment."

The owner of Treetops Estate Pty Ltd has been fined $84,000 for illegal land clearing — much less than the $2.2 million it would have cost him if he had obtained a permit for the work. The farmer was convicted over clearing 112 hectares of bushland.

"The clearing significantly reduced high-value remnant vegetation and the habitat of 18 species of native birds, including three of conservational significance: peregrine falcon, purple-gaped honeyeater and black-chinned honeyeater." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-09/farm-owner-convicted-over-land-clearing-fine-less-than-permit/106543362
#biodiversity #LandClearing #deforestation #farming #crime #CostOfDoingBusiness #extinction #birds #EPBCact

Farmer "preferred profit and commercial interest over the environment."

The owner of Treetops Estate Pty Ltd has been fined $84,000 for illegal land clearing — much less than the $2.2 million it would have cost him if he had obtained a permit for the work. The farmer was convicted over clearing 112 hectares of bushland.

"The clearing significantly reduced high-value remnant vegetation and the habitat of 18 species of native birds, including three of conservational significance: peregrine falcon, purple-gaped honeyeater and black-chinned honeyeater." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-09/farm-owner-convicted-over-land-clearing-fine-less-than-permit/106543362
#biodiversity #LandClearing #deforestation #farming #crime #CostOfDoingBusiness #extinction #birds #EPBCact

Automating rapid environment assessments for extractions could ultimately push Australian flora and fauna closer to extinction.

Using AI to prepare and evaluate environmental assessments risks ‘robodebt-style’ failures, scientists say >>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/06/ai-environmental-assessments-robodebt-style-failures
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #conservation #ecosystems #extraction #mining #Robodebt #AI #governance #speed #EcologySlop

Automating rapid environment assessments for extractions could ultimately push Australian flora and fauna closer to extinction.

Using AI to prepare and evaluate environmental assessments risks ‘robodebt-style’ failures, scientists say >>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/06/ai-environmental-assessments-robodebt-style-failures
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #conservation #ecosystems #extraction #mining #Robodebt #AI #governance #speed #EcologySlop

Koala habitat logged by farmers. Will they be charged under the new environment laws?

"Carte blanche" for bulldozing endangered ecosystems?

"The Australian Conservation Foundation has identified a dozen cases of land clearing since December that should have sought environmental approval."

"The ACF has found, via satellite imagery, a dozen cases in Queensland and NSW of old bushland containing endangered habitats being cleared without any of the necessary referrals for approval."

"The maximum penalty for breaches of the EPBC Act is up to $1.565 million for individuals and up to $15.65 million for corporate breaches." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-19/epbc-land-clearing-koala-unaware-farmers/106452434
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #LandClearing #farmers #koalas #NativeVegetation #law #EndangeredEcosystems #NSW

Koala habitat logged by farmers. Will they be charged under the new environment laws?

"Carte blanche" for bulldozing endangered ecosystems?

"The Australian Conservation Foundation has identified a dozen cases of land clearing since December that should have sought environmental approval."

"The ACF has found, via satellite imagery, a dozen cases in Queensland and NSW of old bushland containing endangered habitats being cleared without any of the necessary referrals for approval."

"The maximum penalty for breaches of the EPBC Act is up to $1.565 million for individuals and up to $15.65 million for corporate breaches." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-19/epbc-land-clearing-koala-unaware-farmers/106452434
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #LandClearing #farmers #koalas #NativeVegetation #law #EndangeredEcosystems #NSW

The government's spending on harming nature

"For the first time, research published this year, identified 36 federal subsidies worth $26.3 billion annually that are potentially harmful to biodiversity. Fossil fuel subsidies alone account for $14.1 billion. It is extraordinary the Australian Government believes it can exclude fossil fuel subsidies on the basis of a technicality. Meanwhile, independent estimates place federal biodiversity conservation spending at below $1 billion annually. "

"The arithmetic is stark: the government spent more than $26 billion a year on harming nature, less than $1 billion conserving it. No government serious about halting biodiversity loss would preside over such an imbalance and say they were “on track”. >>
https://theconversation.com/australia-claims-it-is-on-track-to-save-nature-we-disagree-278081

Biodiversity-harmful subsidies in Australia
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14486563.2026.2623910
#FossilFuels #FossilFuelsSubsidies #biodiversity #harm #conservation #KMGBF #restoration #NoTake #fishing #ThreatenedSpecies #Australia #MarineLife #degradation #EPBCAct #war #climate #pollution #governance #values

The government's spending on harming nature

"For the first time, research published this year, identified 36 federal subsidies worth $26.3 billion annually that are potentially harmful to biodiversity. Fossil fuel subsidies alone account for $14.1 billion. It is extraordinary the Australian Government believes it can exclude fossil fuel subsidies on the basis of a technicality. Meanwhile, independent estimates place federal biodiversity conservation spending at below $1 billion annually. "

"The arithmetic is stark: the government spent more than $26 billion a year on harming nature, less than $1 billion conserving it. No government serious about halting biodiversity loss would preside over such an imbalance and say they were “on track”. >>
https://theconversation.com/australia-claims-it-is-on-track-to-save-nature-we-disagree-278081

Biodiversity-harmful subsidies in Australia
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14486563.2026.2623910
#FossilFuels #FossilFuelsSubsidies #biodiversity #harm #conservation #KMGBF #restoration #NoTake #fishing #ThreatenedSpecies #Australia #MarineLife #degradation #EPBCAct #war #climate #pollution #governance #values

Australia claims it is ‘on track’ to save nature. We disagree

"Ecosystems are being left to degrade, rare and precious species are sliding toward extinction, and billions of dollars are being used to quietly fund subsidies, including for fossil fuels, which contribute to the very destruction the government claims to be fixing."

"Australia already holds the world’s worst record for modern mammal extinctions – 38 species lost since colonisation, more than any other country. Against that grim inheritance, having no further extinctions (that we know about) is a remarkably low bar."

1. Restoration: not enough done, and the report knows it
2. Protected areas: national figures mask failures
3. Threatened species: declining, not recovering
4. Harmful fossil fuel subsidies hidden, conservation spending inflated

"This new report confirms those weaknesses extend to Australia’s self-assessment, which lacks the rigour and ambition the nature crisis demands.The reforms of Australia’s nature laws, passed in late 2025, are the most significant in a generation, and we welcome them. But legislation without implementation, adequate funding or a delivery plan is not enough."

"This important report – with its hidden subsidies, inflated spending figures, missing implementation plan, and a definition of “on track” that mistakes promises for progress – is not worthy of a nation with both the means and the obligation to lead." >>
https://theconversation.com/australia-claims-it-is-on-track-to-save-nature-we-disagree-278081
#biodiversity #conservation #KMGBF #restoration #NoTake #fishing #ThreatenedSpecies #FossilFuels #FossilFuelsSubsidies #Australia #MarineLife #degradation #EPBCAct

Australia claims it is ‘on track’ to save nature. We disagree

"Ecosystems are being left to degrade, rare and precious species are sliding toward extinction, and billions of dollars are being used to quietly fund subsidies, including for fossil fuels, which contribute to the very destruction the government claims to be fixing."

"Australia already holds the world’s worst record for modern mammal extinctions – 38 species lost since colonisation, more than any other country. Against that grim inheritance, having no further extinctions (that we know about) is a remarkably low bar."

1. Restoration: not enough done, and the report knows it
2. Protected areas: national figures mask failures
3. Threatened species: declining, not recovering
4. Harmful fossil fuel subsidies hidden, conservation spending inflated

"This new report confirms those weaknesses extend to Australia’s self-assessment, which lacks the rigour and ambition the nature crisis demands.The reforms of Australia’s nature laws, passed in late 2025, are the most significant in a generation, and we welcome them. But legislation without implementation, adequate funding or a delivery plan is not enough."

"This important report – with its hidden subsidies, inflated spending figures, missing implementation plan, and a definition of “on track” that mistakes promises for progress – is not worthy of a nation with both the means and the obligation to lead." >>
https://theconversation.com/australia-claims-it-is-on-track-to-save-nature-we-disagree-278081
#biodiversity #conservation #KMGBF #restoration #NoTake #fishing #ThreatenedSpecies #FossilFuels #FossilFuelsSubsidies #Australia #MarineLife #degradation #EPBCAct

Australian wildlife in ‘harm’s way’, with volunteers left to ‘pick up the pieces’ amid climate crisis, fires and floods

"Last financial year, volunteers responded to more than 320,000 calls for help for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. Nearly 130,000 rescue operations were conducted and vets assessed 51,000 injured animals."

"The soaring demand is being driven by climate change and habitat destruction."

“As a consequence of these pressures, more and more animals are getting in harm’s way. When they get in harm’s way, governments take very little interest. So it is left to volunteers to pick up the pieces and get those animals back into the wild. Currently responsibility for injured animals falls on the community."

"We need a national approach.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/03/australian-wildlife-in-harms-way-with-volunteers-left-to-pick-up-the-pieces-amid-climate-crisis-fires-and-floods
#biodiversity #wildlife #conservation #EPBCAct #volunteers #FossilFuels #sprawl #roads #LandClearing #climate #governance

Australian wildlife in ‘harm’s way’, with volunteers left to ‘pick up the pieces’ amid climate crisis, fires and floods

"Last financial year, volunteers responded to more than 320,000 calls for help for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. Nearly 130,000 rescue operations were conducted and vets assessed 51,000 injured animals."

"The soaring demand is being driven by climate change and habitat destruction."

“As a consequence of these pressures, more and more animals are getting in harm’s way. When they get in harm’s way, governments take very little interest. So it is left to volunteers to pick up the pieces and get those animals back into the wild. Currently responsibility for injured animals falls on the community."

"We need a national approach.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/03/australian-wildlife-in-harms-way-with-volunteers-left-to-pick-up-the-pieces-amid-climate-crisis-fires-and-floods
#biodiversity #wildlife #conservation #EPBCAct #volunteers #FossilFuels #sprawl #roads #LandClearing #climate #governance

Bulldozing Australia’s great tropical savanna
"One of the largest intact and biodiverse savanna ecosystems left on Earth”.

"The environment minister, Murray Watt, has given the green light for the bulldozing of nearly 3,000 hectares of tropical savanna in the Northern Territory without an assessment under Australia’s nature laws."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/24/federal-green-light-bulldoze-tropical-savanna-northern-territory-threatened-species
#biodiversity #cotton #monoculture #ThreatenedSpecies #EPBCAct #LandClearing #NationalInterest #exemptions #laws #Australia #extractivism #water

Image: The Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gouldian_Finch_(8952067299).jpg

Bulldozing Australia’s great tropical savanna
"One of the largest intact and biodiverse savanna ecosystems left on Earth”.

"The environment minister, Murray Watt, has given the green light for the bulldozing of nearly 3,000 hectares of tropical savanna in the Northern Territory without an assessment under Australia’s nature laws."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/24/federal-green-light-bulldoze-tropical-savanna-northern-territory-threatened-species
#biodiversity #cotton #monoculture #ThreatenedSpecies #EPBCAct #LandClearing #NationalInterest #exemptions #laws #Australia #extractivism #water

Image: The Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gouldian_Finch_(8952067299).jpg

Australian biodiversity and imperial obsequiousness

In a nutshell:
#biodiversity #mining #JarrahForest #LandClearing #UnlawfulClearing #EPBCAct #EPBCActExemptions #cockatoos #EndangeredSpecies
#Australia #CriticalMinerals #ImperialObsequiousness #SubimperialEnforcer #ExemptionPower #NationalInterest #extractivism #zeitgeist

"The Australian government’s decision to allow the US mining giant Alcoa to continue clearing swathes of Western Australian jarrah forest despite past illegal clearing practices was made in part due to a critical minerals deal reached between Australia and the Trump administration last year, a new document shows."

"...The government has prioritised corporate interests and foreign defence interests above the jarrah forests, the endangered species that rely on the forests and Perth’s drinking water – showing just how wrong their priorities are.”

“In the twisted logic of Australia in the Trump age, the national interest lies not in honouring and protecting the beauty and richness of our natural heritage, but in sacrificing it to foreign mining companies.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/21/australia-us-minerals-underpinned-decision-to-allow-alcoa-to-keep-clearing-wa-forest-document-reveals

Australian biodiversity and imperial obsequiousness

In a nutshell:
#biodiversity #mining #JarrahForest #LandClearing #UnlawfulClearing #EPBCAct #EPBCActExemptions #cockatoos #EndangeredSpecies
#Australia #CriticalMinerals #ImperialObsequiousness #SubimperialEnforcer #ExemptionPower #NationalInterest #extractivism #zeitgeist

"The Australian government’s decision to allow the US mining giant Alcoa to continue clearing swathes of Western Australian jarrah forest despite past illegal clearing practices was made in part due to a critical minerals deal reached between Australia and the Trump administration last year, a new document shows."

"...The government has prioritised corporate interests and foreign defence interests above the jarrah forests, the endangered species that rely on the forests and Perth’s drinking water – showing just how wrong their priorities are.”

“In the twisted logic of Australia in the Trump age, the national interest lies not in honouring and protecting the beauty and richness of our natural heritage, but in sacrificing it to foreign mining companies.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/21/australia-us-minerals-underpinned-decision-to-allow-alcoa-to-keep-clearing-wa-forest-document-reveals

Approved for destruction - Australia a global deforestation hotspot

"More than 57,000 hectares of threatened species habitat was approved for destruction by the Australian government in 2025 – the most in 15 years, according to analysis by the Australian Conservation Foundation."

“A lot of people don’t know that Australia is a global deforestation hotspot … every year, we lose more forest than the loss from the entire palm oil industry in Indonesia...Of the threatened species land clearing, 98% occurred in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/13/threatened-species-habitat-destruction-australia-15-year-high

Bulldozing the bush: ACF Investigates
https://canopy.acf.org.au/m/9b73d191fe0dca9/original/ACF-Investigates-Bulldozing-the-Bush.pdf

#biodiversity #destruction #deforestation #extractivism #cattle #grazing #mining #EPBCAct #CompanionSpecies #ExtinctionCrisis #NSW

Approved for destruction - Australia a global deforestation hotspot

"More than 57,000 hectares of threatened species habitat was approved for destruction by the Australian government in 2025 – the most in 15 years, according to analysis by the Australian Conservation Foundation."

“A lot of people don’t know that Australia is a global deforestation hotspot … every year, we lose more forest than the loss from the entire palm oil industry in Indonesia...Of the threatened species land clearing, 98% occurred in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/13/threatened-species-habitat-destruction-australia-15-year-high

Bulldozing the bush: ACF Investigates
https://canopy.acf.org.au/m/9b73d191fe0dca9/original/ACF-Investigates-Bulldozing-the-Bush.pdf

#biodiversity #destruction #deforestation #extractivism #cattle #grazing #mining #EPBCAct #CompanionSpecies #ExtinctionCrisis #NSW

Australia has new laws to protect nature. Do they signal an end to native forest logging?

"There is a straightforward way to avoid the ecological, administrative, and financial problems created by native forest logging – stop it altogether. The evidence shows ending native forest logging would deliver significant benefits for biodiversity, forest ecosystems, and reduce fire risks."
>>
https://theconversation.com/australia-has-new-laws-to-protect-nature-do-they-signal-an-end-to-native-forest-logging-271203
#NativeForests #LoggingImpacts #BAU #EPBCact #Biodiversity #conservation #governance #PoliticsOfUnsustainability #harm #thinning #LoggingIndustry #bushfires #risks

Australia has new laws to protect nature. Do they signal an end to native forest logging?

"There is a straightforward way to avoid the ecological, administrative, and financial problems created by native forest logging – stop it altogether. The evidence shows ending native forest logging would deliver significant benefits for biodiversity, forest ecosystems, and reduce fire risks."
>>
https://theconversation.com/australia-has-new-laws-to-protect-nature-do-they-signal-an-end-to-native-forest-logging-271203
#NativeForests #LoggingImpacts #BAU #EPBCact #Biodiversity #conservation #governance #PoliticsOfUnsustainability #harm #thinning #LoggingIndustry #bushfires #risks

Australia finally acknowledges environment underpins all else. That’s no small thing

"We have acted as if we can choose, indefinitely, to trade-off environmental integrity for material gains. Our choices have created deserts, waterways incapable of supporting life, soils leached of fertility, climate change driving weather events of such severity and frequency that whole towns, suburbs and agricultural landscapes are fast becoming uninsurable." Ken Henry
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/28/nature-protection-laws-australia-acknowledges-environment-underpins-all
#Environment #EPBCAct #biodiversity #conservation #Australia

Australia finally acknowledges environment underpins all else. That’s no small thing

"We have acted as if we can choose, indefinitely, to trade-off environmental integrity for material gains. Our choices have created deserts, waterways incapable of supporting life, soils leached of fertility, climate change driving weather events of such severity and frequency that whole towns, suburbs and agricultural landscapes are fast becoming uninsurable." Ken Henry
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/28/nature-protection-laws-australia-acknowledges-environment-underpins-all
#Environment #EPBCAct #biodiversity #conservation #Australia

Inside the 72-hour rush that ended the long fight to fix Australia’s nature protection laws https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/27/inside-the-72-hour-rush-that-ended-the-long-fight-to-fix-australia-nature-protection-laws #auspol #EPBCAct #nature #biodiversity

Inside the 72-hour rush that ended the long fight to fix Australia’s nature protection laws https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/27/inside-the-72-hour-rush-that-ended-the-long-fight-to-fix-australia-nature-protection-laws #auspol #EPBCAct #nature #biodiversity

“Fracking
undoubtedly poses a major risk to this huge, quite incredible aquifer that many Aboriginal communities and pastoralists rely on. Unbelievably there has never, ever been a referral of fracking in the Northern Territory … under the EPBC Act.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/27/santos-gas-plan-beetaloo-basin-northern-territory-fracking-fears
#water #FossilFuels #extractivism #EPBCAct #Beetaloo

“Fracking
undoubtedly poses a major risk to this huge, quite incredible aquifer that many Aboriginal communities and pastoralists rely on. Unbelievably there has never, ever been a referral of fracking in the Northern Territory … under the EPBC Act.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/27/santos-gas-plan-beetaloo-basin-northern-territory-fracking-fears
#water #FossilFuels #extractivism #EPBCAct #Beetaloo

A ‘one-time’ offer to fix nature "rammed through"
"Will the new legislation stem the damage to nature?"
>>
https://theconversation.com/long-sought-environmental-law-reform-is-finally-here-but-will-the-compromise-deal-actually-protect-nature-270775
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #climate #fossilFuels #loggingimpacts #extractivism #water #Australia

A ‘one-time’ offer to fix nature "rammed through"
"Will the new legislation stem the damage to nature?"
>>
https://theconversation.com/long-sought-environmental-law-reform-is-finally-here-but-will-the-compromise-deal-actually-protect-nature-270775
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #climate #fossilFuels #loggingimpacts #extractivism #water #Australia

Labor strikes deal with Greens to pass long-awaited overhaul of nature protection laws https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/27/labor-strikes-deal-with-greens-to-pass-long-awaited-overhaul-of-nature-protection-laws

The deal to re-write the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act marks an end to a five-year struggle to fix the broken system

#EPBCAct #biodiversity #conservation #climate? #auslaw #auspol

Labor strikes deal with Greens to pass long-awaited overhaul of nature protection laws https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/27/labor-strikes-deal-with-greens-to-pass-long-awaited-overhaul-of-nature-protection-laws

The deal to re-write the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act marks an end to a five-year struggle to fix the broken system

#EPBCAct #biodiversity #conservation #climate? #auslaw #auspol

The federal environmental protection laws - fixing a broken system?

"The Greens have agreed to support Labor’s re-write of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act after securing further concessions from the government amid tense and prolonged negotiations...The deal will clear the path for Labor to ram the legislation through the Senate on Thursday..."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/nov/27/australia-politics-live-barnaby-joyce-one-nation-pauline-hanson-environment-nature-bill-deal-coalition-greens-murray-watt-question-time-anthony-albanese-sussan-ley-ntwnfb
#biodiversity #climate #FossilFuels #extractivism #environment #EPBCAct #water #FastTrackApprovals #loggingimpacts

The federal environmental protection laws - fixing a broken system?

"The Greens have agreed to support Labor’s re-write of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act after securing further concessions from the government amid tense and prolonged negotiations...The deal will clear the path for Labor to ram the legislation through the Senate on Thursday..."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/nov/27/australia-politics-live-barnaby-joyce-one-nation-pauline-hanson-environment-nature-bill-deal-coalition-greens-murray-watt-question-time-anthony-albanese-sussan-ley-ntwnfb
#biodiversity #climate #FossilFuels #extractivism #environment #EPBCAct #water #FastTrackApprovals #loggingimpacts

The Group of Eight (Go8) Australia, which represents the nation's leading universities, was among 26 industry groups that wrote a letter to the federal government last month, seeking to weaken environmental protections in a bill currently before parliament. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-26/group-of-eight-go8-universities-environment-legislation/106056594 #EPBCAct #GroupofEight #education #SDGs #auspol #auslaw #biodiversity #sustainability

The Group of Eight (Go8) Australia, which represents the nation's leading universities, was among 26 industry groups that wrote a letter to the federal government last month, seeking to weaken environmental protections in a bill currently before parliament. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-26/group-of-eight-go8-universities-environment-legislation/106056594 #EPBCAct #GroupofEight #education #SDGs #auspol #auslaw #biodiversity #sustainability

Exchange rates for different forms of environmental destruction:

From ‘net zero’ to ‘net gain’. The platypus-to-possum exchange rate
"Net gain’ allows/requires the use of offsets that are not like-for-like: I can destroy some platypus habitat if someone else protects some possum habitat."

"A bureaucrat is literally going to have to develop the platypus-to-possum exchange rate. I am not kidding; a bureaucrat is going to have to develop exchange rates for different forms of environmental destruction."
>>
https://michaelwest.com.au/from-net-zero-to-net-gain-the-platypus-to-possum-exchange-rate/
#Environment #biodiversity #BeanCounterEcology #offsets #EPBCAct #governance #destruction
The endangered Southern Pink Underwing Moth, Mural, Bellingen

Exchange rates for different forms of environmental destruction:

From ‘net zero’ to ‘net gain’. The platypus-to-possum exchange rate
"Net gain’ allows/requires the use of offsets that are not like-for-like: I can destroy some platypus habitat if someone else protects some possum habitat."

"A bureaucrat is literally going to have to develop the platypus-to-possum exchange rate. I am not kidding; a bureaucrat is going to have to develop exchange rates for different forms of environmental destruction."
>>
https://michaelwest.com.au/from-net-zero-to-net-gain-the-platypus-to-possum-exchange-rate/
#Environment #biodiversity #BeanCounterEcology #offsets #EPBCAct #governance #destruction
The endangered Southern Pink Underwing Moth, Mural, Bellingen

The destruction of native forests

"The independent review of the EPBC Act, conducted by Graeme Samuel in 2020, described the exemption for RFAs from federal environment laws as an untenable "loophole". The Greens, who have been demanding a complete ban on native forest logging, want to end the exemption of RFAs from the EPBC Act immediately. Changes to the EPBC Act will be before the Senate on Wednesday..."
>>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-23/labor-greens-deal-on-environment-laws-native-forests/106040766
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #NativeForests #RFAs #degradation #FossilFuels #NSWLogging #BellingenLogging

The destruction of native forests

"The independent review of the EPBC Act, conducted by Graeme Samuel in 2020, described the exemption for RFAs from federal environment laws as an untenable "loophole". The Greens, who have been demanding a complete ban on native forest logging, want to end the exemption of RFAs from the EPBC Act immediately. Changes to the EPBC Act will be before the Senate on Wednesday..."
>>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-23/labor-greens-deal-on-environment-laws-native-forests/106040766
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #NativeForests #RFAs #degradation #FossilFuels #NSWLogging #BellingenLogging

Are CSIRO’s sweeping job cuts a sign Australia doesn’t care about the extinction crisis?

Cuts to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation include:
"climate intelligence and advice; unlocking net zero; waste; and valuing and restoring biodiversity, nature and healthy ecosystems."

“… The direction appears to be, at the moment, that we are prepared to drop the ball on our extinction crisis, our global leadership in biodiversity science or in Southern Ocean science.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/21/csiro-job-cuts-australia-extinction-crisis
#science #research #ClimateCrisis #BiodiversityCrisis #Extinction #EPBCAct #PublicGood #CSIRO #climate #FossilFuels #Australia #VibeShift

Are CSIRO’s sweeping job cuts a sign Australia doesn’t care about the extinction crisis?

Cuts to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation include:
"climate intelligence and advice; unlocking net zero; waste; and valuing and restoring biodiversity, nature and healthy ecosystems."

“… The direction appears to be, at the moment, that we are prepared to drop the ball on our extinction crisis, our global leadership in biodiversity science or in Southern Ocean science.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/21/csiro-job-cuts-australia-extinction-crisis
#science #research #ClimateCrisis #BiodiversityCrisis #Extinction #EPBCAct #PublicGood #CSIRO #climate #FossilFuels #Australia #VibeShift

Environmental reform - The EPBC negotiations

"They can continue to work to appease the big business and big mining and logging companies with the Coalition, or they can work with the Greens to put in place legislation and laws that actually protect our environment, protect our forests and our climate." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-18/business-groups-epbc-work-together-on-environmental-reform/106020174
#EPBCAct #conservation #extractivism #law

Environmental reform - The EPBC negotiations

"They can continue to work to appease the big business and big mining and logging companies with the Coalition, or they can work with the Greens to put in place legislation and laws that actually protect our environment, protect our forests and our climate." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-18/business-groups-epbc-work-together-on-environmental-reform/106020174
#EPBCAct #conservation #extractivism #law

Biodiversity offsets failed to protect habitat in NSW.
Now federal Labor is about to make the same mistakes, critics warn

"Offsets were meant to be a last resort for mitigating environmental damage from development projects, but rapidly became the default. An auditor general report found the government had no strategy for ensuring the offset market delivered the required environmental outcomes."

"In plain terms, development was occurring that harmed nature, money was accumulating in the fund because there were not enough offsets to compensate for that harm and species were being pushed closer to extinction."

“Turning offsets into an easy payment option flips the whole logic of environmental protection on its head."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/15/biodiversity-offset-scheme-nsw-australia-failing-nature-protection
#biodiversity #uniqueness #conservation #offsets #markets #GreenCapitalism #RestorationContributions #ecosystem #destruction #harm #NSW #governance #regulation #BeanCounterEcology #failure #BAU #EPBCAct #extinction

Biodiversity offsets failed to protect habitat in NSW.
Now federal Labor is about to make the same mistakes, critics warn

"Offsets were meant to be a last resort for mitigating environmental damage from development projects, but rapidly became the default. An auditor general report found the government had no strategy for ensuring the offset market delivered the required environmental outcomes."

"In plain terms, development was occurring that harmed nature, money was accumulating in the fund because there were not enough offsets to compensate for that harm and species were being pushed closer to extinction."

“Turning offsets into an easy payment option flips the whole logic of environmental protection on its head."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/15/biodiversity-offset-scheme-nsw-australia-failing-nature-protection
#biodiversity #uniqueness #conservation #offsets #markets #GreenCapitalism #RestorationContributions #ecosystem #destruction #harm #NSW #governance #regulation #BeanCounterEcology #failure #BAU #EPBCAct #extinction