THEY said it couldn’t happen, but the Federal Labor Government has worked with the Greens to pass reforms to the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act after negotiations fell through last November.
The reforms include a new environment watchdog agency; national standards to safeguard nature; federal laws to apply to native forest logging by mid-2027; and a crackdown on illegal land clearing.
Other reforms are fast-tracked approvals for significant projects like housing and renewable energy, and streamlined assessments to cut federal-state duplication.
Reaction to the reforms has been mixed.
The North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) has welcomed the reforms to “remove the absurd exemption under Regional Forest Agreements for native forest logging”.
NEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh said, “The Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) are based on out of date information collated 27 years ago and are not a valid basis to exempt logging from national environmental laws”.
“There was meant to be a total reassessment in 2018, instead the Government decided to extend the RFA forever.
“Hopefully, when the new environmental standards are applied, the NSW Government will have to stop logging core habitat of nationally endangered species, such as koala, Greater Glider, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Hastings River Mouse, Stuttering Frog, Giant Barred Frog, Rufous Scrub Bird, Regent Honeyeater, and Swift Parrot.”
National Farmers Federation (NFF) President Hamish McIntyre said, “Farmers have been left bitterly disappointed by the deal between the Government and the Greens on environmental reform.
“As stewards of more than half of Australia’s environment, farmers understand the importance of doing the right thing by the land.
“They’ve also historically borne the brunt of complex federal environmental laws, often at odds with state obligations.
“That’s why the NFF has supported genuine reform, but not this deal.”
Mr McIntyre said farmers’ key concern is the announcement of “closer controls” of” high risk land clearing”.
“The specifics of this remain unclear, and we are urgently calling for clarity.
“The misunderstanding of agricultural practices is bitterly disappointing.”
He said the NFF will continue to try to make these reforms as workable for the farm sector as possible.
Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) CEO, Kelly O’Shanassy said, “This new law means genuine progress for nature protection in Australia.
“This will give our forests, which are home to unique Australian wildlife like the koala and greater glider, a fighting chance.
“ACF welcomes the wider protection for forests, the introduction of a national EPA and the removal of the possibility that coal and gas projects will be fast tracked.
“Exemptions and loopholes that have facilitated the destruction of forests have been a shameful feature of this law for a quarter of a century.
“Today, those loopholes will be closed.”
Dr Tim Cadman, who has been advocating for stronger definitions of plantations , said “the Devil is in the detail.”
“There is still a lot left to the discretion of the Minister, and there is a lack of clarity over the protection of threatened species in forests.
“Plantations are counted as forests, for example, and are expected to come in under the provisions of the Regional Forest Agreement.
“But they are governed by different legislation – there are still loopholes that may be exploited by bad actors.”
Tim Nott, convenor of the Coffs Harbour Greens, said, “After waiting decades for something to happen it’s great to see some improvements to celebrate.
“It’s good to see the Greens operating as a mature opposition party should.
“Having,forestry aligned with other activities that affect the environment by closing loopholes is very encouraging”.
However, like Dr Cadman, he said there are a number of things that are still unclear.
He also has concerns about ministerial discretion.
“Major polluters are still exempt from climate change assessments, which is very concerning, considering that Coffs Harbour is prone to weather extremes and homes are becoming uninsurable.”
By Andrew VIVIAN
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