NSW Labor Leader, Michael Daley, and Deputy Leader, Penny Sharpe, today announced a further package of policies to protect and enhance the state's natural environment and repair the damage caused after eight years of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals.
In addition to new climate change policies including a Renewable Energy Target of at least 50 per cent by 2030, Mr Daley announced that Labor would seek to ensure the state's threatened natural assets are safeguarded for the future.
"The last eight years have been catastrophic for the natural environment in NSW under the Liberals and Nationals, and as Labor Leader I feel a deep responsibility to set things right," Mr Daley said.
"Protecting nature is core Labor business, and I want to ensure that we pass on a healthier, cleaner natural environment to our children and future generations."
Under the new policy package, Labor will:
- Protect and support our national parks– including expanding Tomaree National Park in Port Stephens, creating a new koala national park in south-west Sydney, protecting Kosciuszko National Park, and nominating the Royal National Park for World Heritage listing.
- Protect our land, our wildlife, our trees, and our soil– including remaking the biodiversity laws to bring land clearing under control and protect koala habitat, investing $50 million in Labor's war on weeds and pests, and doubling the funding to Landcare groups.
- Deliver cleaner air– including adopting higher standards to limit pollution from larger particles like dust, improving air quality monitoring near coal fired power stations, and delivering the 10-year 'Clean Air' strategy that the current government has failed to finalise.
- Improve the health of NSW waterways– including Labor's plan to save the Barwon-Darling river system, and restoring the Streamwatch program cut by the current state government.
- Protect and enhance our urban environment– including planting 6 million trees by 2030, creating a first-ever inventory of environmental assets in Sydney, and ensuring that planning laws take environmental assets into account when planning decisions are made.
Labor also recommitted to repealing the Liberals and Nationals' anti-protest laws and opposing nuclear power in NSW.
