WWF-Australia welcomes strengthened reforms to Australia's nature laws that will give nature a fighting chance.
"We congratulate the government and the Greens for working together on substantial changes to ensure our nature laws do what they are supposed to do: protect nature," said Dermot O'Gorman, WWF-Australia's CEO.
"Nature now has a fighting chance."
The Albanese Government today announced the details of revised legislation designed to fix the failing Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC). Labor worked with the Greens on targeted amendments to significantly improve its original legislation. It will now go to the Senate for debate.
"Australia's nature laws were broken, so this new legislation is a major leap forward to protect our endangered species and natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef," said Mr O'Gorman.
Mr O'Gorman welcomed amendments to roll back exemptions for native forest logging, and land clearing in Great Barrier Reef catchments.
"For 25 years the logging industry has had a free pass to knock down the homes of koalas, greater gliders and other endangered species," he said.
"This new legislation will close outdated loopholes and ensure land clearing in Reef catchments, which smothers corals and other marine life, is regulated under our nature laws.
"We're also pleased to see a national Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and guard rails to prevent the acceleration of fossil fuel projects and keep approval powers in Commonwealth hands."
"Of course, nothing is ever perfect and there is important unfinished business.
"The legislation has set up the framework for national environmental standards – but the work of developing and refining these standards needs to start now.
"It is critical that standards set measurable outcomes that can be tracked and that offset arrangements do not undermine nature protections.
"The government must also do far more to protect nature from climate harm and stop approving coal and gas projects.
"Today the Albanese Government and the Greens put nature before politics. With nature in crisis around the world, this is an example to other countries that we can make progress towards a nature-positive economy that works for nature, business and communities," Mr O'Gorman said.
