Nature Laws Back on the Table, Reform Must be Swift

Nature Laws Are Back on the Table, Reform Must Be Swift

• BirdLife Australia is hopeful that today’s roundtable, led by Environment Minister Murray Watt, will lead to swift reforms and meaningful action for nature.
• The organisation joined other environmental organisations and business leaders to chart a way forward for the long-overdue reforms.
• The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) has failed to slow the decline of Australia’s birds, with one in six Australian birds facing the threat of extinction.

BirdLife Australia today joined the Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt and leading stakeholders for a roundtable discussion addressing long-overdue reforms to Australia’s national environmental laws. Participants from national environmental organisations, business leaders and industry representatives, agreed that the current Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act has failed.

BirdLife Australia CEO Kate Millar said the roundtable was a productive conversation. “We welcome the collaborative tone set by Minister Watt today and we are looking forward to the Minister delivering these much-needed reforms with urgency. We can’t afford to let the poor outcomes for both people and nature go on, as it has under the current legislation. That view is shared by members of the business community.”

Ms Millar said now is the time to implement strong national environmental standards that will protect birds and nature, and a better system for conservation planning with adequately funded recovery packages for every threatened species and critical habitats.

“The community expects environmental decision-making that is robust, transparent and independent,” said Ms Millar.

“Strong nature laws are an essential step toward putting our native birds on the path to recovery in the face of a changing climate and myriad other threats including H5 bird flu.

“One in six birds are facing the threat of extinction. Birds like The Swift Parrot, Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo and the Far Eastern Curlew urgently need better protections.”

“We’re hopeful that today’s meeting marks the start of crucial reforms finally being delivered. BirdLife Australia and our partners, including businesses across the country, are working tirelessly on practical conservation solutions for birds and nature, and Australians expect a system of nature laws that supports these efforts.”

BirdLife Australia Media Enquiries: Please contact James Johnson on 0423 659 324 or at media@birdlife.org.au