The EPBC Act is 20 years old and is not fit for purpose. It is failing our environment, business and community, and time is running out to save our iconic threatened species. Legislative reform is needed now – we cannot wait another decade for another statutory review to confirm what we all know – that the national environment laws are failing.
We commend the Government for its ambitious commitments in the Nature Positive Plan, as well as international biodiversity commitments for 2030. Substantial work has been done by the reform taskforce in preparing legislative and policy drafts, and we urge the government to finish the job they have committed to and introduce the comprehensive package to parliament this year.
Our primary recommendation is to urge the Government to introduce – and the parliament to pass – a comprehensive package of legislation in this term of parliament.
