23 January, 2017
Premier Berejiklian must repair the damage of her predecessors
The NSW Nature Conservation Council welcomes the election of Premier Gladys Berejiklian as an opportunity to reset the Coalition Government’s environmental agenda for the benefit of communities and nature across the state.
“We congratulate Ms Berejiklian on her election as Premier and look forward to working with her constructively to turn around the Coalition government’s poor environmental record of the past six years,” NCC CEO Kate Smolski said.
“Ms Berejiklian has much to do to repair the harm to nature caused by her predecessors and to restore the Liberal Party’s environmental reputation.
“To date, the Coalition government has failed to chart a sustainable future for our state. Premiers Baird and O’Farrell were asleep at the wheel on environmental policy, allowing those with a financial interest in weakening environmental protections to shape nature laws in this state.
“Ms Berejiklian’s elevation is an opportunity for the government to reset its position on many environmental and planning policy issues, enhance protections for wildlife, bushland and marine life, and to act decisively on climate change.
“Earlier this year, the government set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which was a positive signal that climate change is being taken more seriously by the Coalition.
“We are very keen to work with Ms Berejiklian to help her achieve that goal well before 2050 by ramping up investment in renewables and hastening the closure of coal-fired power stations.
“We sincerely hope the new premier takes a genuine interest in the protection of the astonishing natural beauty and wildlife that is the common legacy of all people in NSW.”
Ms Smolski said environmental issues that require Ms Berejiklian’s urgent attention include:
Climate change and clean energy transition
- Bringing forward the net-zero emissions target date from 2050 to 2030
- Ending coal and CSG mining in NSW – no new coal mines, mine expansions, or gas fields
- Ramping up investment in large-scale and household renewables
Nature protection
- Restoring strong controls on land clearing
- Ending native forest logging
- Declaring a marine park for the Sydney region
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