Australia's environment is under greater threat today than ever before. Climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species and disease, as well as a rapidly expanding resources sector are all putting at risk our valuable natural environment.

As the world meets in Rio to re-affirm a commitment to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem, the Greens believe Australia must play our part in ensuring an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future for our planet and for present and future generations.

Yet our primary national environment law, the Environment Protection and Biodiveristy Conservation Act is failing us - and rather than stepping up to save our environment, the Australian Government is intending to weaken these laws even further driven on by Tony Abbott, Liberal state premiers and mining executives.