One hundred and thirty community groups have signed a joint statement calling for the parliament to reject Federal Labor’s environmental law reforms.
The statement says the proposed changes to national environment laws will take the country backwards on environmental protection and community rights and interests.
“This statement is a clarion call for laws that actually improve the outcomes for nature and the communities who love and rely on it, and expect a fair go, transparency, and the space to have their say on matters that affect them,” said Lock the Gate Alliance Head of Research and Investigations, Georgina Woods.
“There’s a huge breadth and number of organisations rejecting the Albanese Government’s gutting of Australia’s national environment laws, from the Top End to Port Phillip, from the Darling Downs to Derby and everywhere in between.
“We are united in calling on the parliament to stop this smash and grab of Australia’s natural heritage.
“The Albanese Government’s environment reforms take a hatchet to already inadequate environmental protections and the public’s right to participate in decisions that affect us all.”
Environment Centre NT director Kirsty Howey, who is also among the signatories said, “Labor promised laws that protect nature, but instead, they're fast-tracking its destruction.
“Rural and regional communities across Australia on the frontlines have the most to lose, and these laws lock them out.
“This is a message from the heart and soul of the environment movement. Grass roots groups across the country say no to Labor’s nature law betrayal.”
The 130 groups endorsing the statement include:
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More than 60 regional conservation councils, local environment centres and volunteer-based local nature conservation groups around regional Australia;
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More than 30 volunteer-based suburban and local climate action and resilience groups from cities, towns and regions right around the country;
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19 national-scale advocacy organisations with a wide range of focuses including mining, forests, climate change, health, transparency and human rights;
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Seven state- and territory-based conservation councils.
Over the coming days, some of the groups that endorsed the statement will provide it to Environment Minister Murray Watt or their local federal Labor representative.
ENDS