With a revised tally of killed or displaced wildlife from the summer’s bushfires coming in at three times initial estimates, it’s clear now is not the time to rush through legislation that will weaken environmental protections, the Greens say.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said with 3 billion native animals killed or displaced as a result of the catastrophic fires, and Australia already holding the dishonour of worst mammalian extinction rate in the world, our wildlife was in crisis and needed urgent protection.

The Greens have welcomed the intervention from NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean who has broken ranks today with the Federal Government over plans to weaken environment laws.  The Greens Environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called on the Federal Labor Party to rule out supporting the Morrison Government’s fast-track legislation that puts the environment at further risk.

“Minister Matt Kean is to be congratulated for standing up for the environment and calling out his Federal Liberal colleagues,” Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Hanson-Young responded to the PM's comments today on changes environmental laws:

“The Prime Minster has today belled the cat on the Government’s plans to weaken environmental protections, making it easier for big miners and developers to get the green-light on projects that damage the environment. 

“At a press conference today speaking on plans to amend federal Environment Laws (the EPBC Act) the Prime Minister said: 

State and Territory leaders should tell the Prime Minister today they won’t stand for a further weakening of environmental laws to green light major developments and mines, and instead want strong environmental standards and a cop on the beat to enforce them, the Greens say.

Prime Minister Morrison will reportedly raise the Federal Government’s plan to devolve environmental approval powers to states and territory regulators, before a 10-year statutory review is complete.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Hanson-Young said:

The Prime Minister must drop his plans to green light major developments and new mines at the expense of the environment, after the devastating assessment of Australia’s environmental trajectory in the just-released interim report into Australia’s federal environment laws, the Greens say.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Our environment is in crisis and our native wildlife is facing extinction. Unless we change business-as-usual our environment is destined for more destruction. Our wildlife, our beaches, our forests will be gone.

The announcement by Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley today of funding for tourism and infrastructure at five natural attractions shows there are jobs in a green recovery and much more must be done to look after our environment, the Australian Greens say.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

"Any funding from the Federal Government that goes to improving and protecting our natural world is welcome. This announcement shows there are jobs and economic stimulus in a Green Recovery.

The Greens are calling on Environment Minister Sussan Ley to immediately release the interim report into Australia's environment laws handed to her a week ago by the independent reviewer.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who successfully moved an order in the Senate for the interim report to be released by today at the latest, said:

Heads should roll over the ineptitude and failure of duty identified by the Auditor-General in a scathing report into Australia’s environment laws released this afternoon, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Auditor-General’s assessment of the government’s management of the environment and our wildlife is scathing.
“The report shows the Environment Minister and the Federal Department have failed to protect the environment and are, simply put, incompetent.

Labor’s support of the Morrison Government’s plans to fast-track approvals for major projects risks permanent destruction of our environment and the future of our native wildlife, the Greens say.

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Labor is teaming up with the Morrison Government to green light environmental destruction.

“It is very naïve of Labor to think the process for environmental approvals won’t be shoddier as a result of this deregulation plan.

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) that the New South Wales (NSW) government has included the former IBM site at 55 Coonara Avenue West Pennant Hills in its planning acceleration program, despite the proposal for rezoning from Business to Residential and Environmental use being opposed by the Hills Shire Council and Hornsby Shire Council,