and our communities deserve far better.
environmental protection, not a
process of sanctioned
destruction
in crisis, our national environment
laws need to clearly oblige decision-
makers to protect and restore our
environment. When talking about billion
dollar resource projects that will have
permanent and devastating effects on
the natural environment, all aspects
of such projects must be appropriately
evaluated. A bit of extra time in the
service of the environment is worth it for
future generations.
species and wild places, our obligations
to future generations mean we need
to take far more cautious approach
we need to make decisions today
for tomorrow. The precautionary
principle is too easily forgotten in the
face of short term private profits. For
gas that involve significant risks to our
groundwater that we don't even fully
understand have to be reined in until
the science is complete.
Environment Minister to approve
development which would send species
to extinction or destroy areas through
the death of a thousand cuts. That wide
discretion to approve environmental
destruction needs to be fettered,
and some limits placed on what can
be destroyed. With our environment
in crisis, the onus must be on the
proponents to satisfy the federal govt
and the community for an approval.
species and ecosystems for future
generations when their natural habitats
are without protection. Our national
environmental laws need to actually
protect habitat, and proactively manage
species and areas to avoid them
becoming threatened with extinction
and to help build their resilience in the
face of climate change.
laws have to be supported by solid
compliance and monitoring, and well
resourced enforcement, so that we
know our commitments are being
delivered on - and big business knows it
can't get away with breaking the rules.
for strong, effective national
environmental laws that protect the
environment which sustains us, and
empowers communities to stand up
for the places and species that are too
precious to lose.
Greens Senator for Queensland and
an environmental lawyer. In 2011 she
won the Law Association's national
Young Environmental Lawyer of the
Year award and in 2012 she was Griffith
University's Law School Alumni of the
Year. She is the Greens spokesperson
on Environment, Biodiversity and
Natural Heritage.