MEDIA RELEASE
12 September 2024
Conservation Councils from all Australia States and Territories are calling on the Albanese Government to rule out a deal with the Liberal Party that would weaken proposed Nature Positive laws. The groups are calling on the Government and Senate Crossbench to work together to pass these laws.
“Prime Minister Albanese should not do a deal with Dutton to dilute the Nature Positive reforms. This would be a broken promise. Following an independent review that found our existing nature laws to be fundamentally broken, the Albanese Government promised new nature laws designed to end extinctions and protect the places we love,” said Dave Copeman, Director of the Queensland Conservation Council.
“Australians love our forests and incredible native animals, and they want them to be protected. A deal with Dutton would benefit oil and gas companies that are seeking to bully the Government into weakening the laws, at the expense of communities and nature,” said Jess Beckerling, Executive Director of the Conservation Council of WA.
“This is a character test for the Prime Minister and Minister Plibersek to show that they are willing to stand firm and do the right thing by Australia’s nature,” said Jacqui Mumford, CEO of Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
“To even consider a dud deal with the Liberal Opposition would be a betrayal and a broken promise that would benefit oil and gas businesses at the expense of communities and nature,” Simon Copland, Executive Director of Conservation Council ACT Region.
“We are all calling on Minister Plibersek, the Greens and crossbench to negotiate a practical outcome that delivers a strong independent national EPA with the power to address out of control land-clearing and logging and assess the climate impacts of polluting projects,” said Kirsty Howey, Executive Director of Environment Centre of the Northern Territory.
“Australians want nature protected. 2024 polling shows that 73% of Australians support stronger nature laws and 89% of Australians have said nature conservation will influence their vote,” said Kirsty Bevan, CEO of Conservation Council of South Australia.
“We must ensure that our federal nature laws are up to the job and strong enough to push back on big oil and gas who are looking for a continuation of the rubber stamp approach of a bygone era,” said James Overington, Executive Director of Environment Tasmania.
“Conservation Councils from around the country are calling on the Prime Minister and Minister Plibersek not to do a deal with Dutton to water down desperately needed nature laws, but instead to work with the crossbench to pass strong laws that benefit communities and nature,” said Jono La Nauze, CEO of Environment Victoria.