As stated by Jo Clay, Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens, in response to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation reforms passed yesterday:
"Holding the balance of power in the Senate, the Australian Greens have overcome the gigantic forces of big corporations and dirty polluters to secure new environmental protections for all Australians and communities.
"After decades of weak environmental laws and community pressure, these laws now provide more protections for native forests. They close loopholes which saw land clearing and habitat destruction. They have stopped Labor from fast-tracking coal and gas projects.
"But Canberra's local environment laws are broken and weak too. Already this year we've seen developments prioritised over habitat, like natural temperate grasslands, that are home to critically endangered species like the Canberra Earless Dragon.
"Canberra's dodgy offset policy makes it easy for developers to pave over precious habitat-the main driver of the biodiversity crisis in the Territory.
"Former ACT Greens Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti started the work to review our decade old offsets policy, but now that Labor hold the portfolio, action has stalled.
"As we look to set city limits, Canberrans want to see habitats and rich, diverse ecosystems thrive across our suburbs-like the reserves in your region, and the parks and microforests in your neighbourhood.
"That's why we need a biodiversity network, to safeguard nature in the suburbs. We won't accept Labor stalling on these reforms, or continue choosing developers over our environment.
"Under the ACT Labor minority government, they've failed to meet legislated climate targets and taken us off track to meet net-zero by 2045. They've also let the climate strategy expire and have no ambition to take meaningful climate action right now.
"Just last week, the ACT Labor Climate Minister said in hearings that the Government is taking a breath instead of delivering urgent, sensible action.
"All while the prediction for summer is increased risk of climate disasters like bushfires. We cannot sit around and wait-Canberra deserves better.
"The ACT Greens will keep pressuring Labor to take action, put nature before vested interests, and once again become leaders on climate action."
