The Australian Conservation Foundation has called for voices representing the environment to be included in the Albanese government's upcoming productivity roundtable.
"Repairing Australia's broken nature protection law is one critical thing the Albanese government can do to boost productivity," said ACF's nature program manager Basha Stasak.
"As former Treasury secretary Ken Henry powerfully outlined at the National Press Club, the biggest threat to Australia's future productivity comes from nature destruction.
"Research by ACF shows roughly half Australia's GDP (49% or $896 billion) has a moderate to very high direct dependence on nature."
(Of course, indirectly every dollar that flows through the Australian economy depends on the health and survival of natural systems, which are under continuing threat.)
"Nature protects us all by providing clean air and water, healthy landscapes, good food and the materials we need to live, but the national environment law is not working, leaving Australian wildlife under extreme pressure and threatening our way of life," she said.
"It will be important for the upcoming productivity roundtable to consider the importance of healthy nature to a healthy economy.
"ACF has welcomed Environment Minister Murray Watt's restarting of the long-overdue reform of Australia's broken national nature laws, his commitment to consultation and to getting bills into Parliament at the start of 2026.
"There has been review after review and a no end of consultation and discussion.
"It's time for Minister Watt to commit to the comprehensive reform package and specifically to an environment protection agency that has responsibility for assessments and decisions on approvals, as well as strong standards for nature protection."
ACF is looking for the reformed law to set clear, strong standards for nature protection, establish an independent EPA, introduce a 'quick no' for proposals that would have unacceptable impacts on nature, close loopholes to make sure the law covers native forest logging and deforestation for agriculture, and address climate harm in all decisions.
