2022-10-20
This Friday (21 October) is the first time that all Environment Ministers from across territory, state, and national levels are meeting since the federal election was called this year.
Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti, said the meeting will be a critical step in coordinating action across the country to halt biodiversity loss and restore our environment.
“We’re well aware of the scale of climate and biodiversity crises that our country and the world are facing right now,” Minister Vassarotti said.
“We need a strong, decisive and collaborative response across all levels of government to face these challenges together. My priorities in this meeting will be to advocate on behalf of the territory for timely, proportionate responses to the climate emergency and extinction crisis.
“I will push for stronger nature protection laws and a truly independent federal Environment Protection Authority to oversee them. Strong, binding National Environmental Standards are the cornerstone of the reforms we need to ensure the EPBC Act truly functions to protect our precious wildlife, and their habitats.
“We are fortunate in the ACT that 60% of our environment is already protected as nature reserves, wilderness areas or national park. I will strongly encourage a joint agreement between all states and territories to play their part in further protecting the environment, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to protect 30% of land and 30% of oceans in the country by 2030.
“We will also be discussing the possibility of establishing a voluntary national biodiversity market. I will be advocating for three things that will be essential for a proposed market to succeed. First and foremost, it must have an overall objective of net gain for biodiversity across Australia.
“A national market will need strong integrity based on transparent and scientifically robust methodology so that it delivers genuine outcomes for nature. It must also be based on rewarding good environmental stewardship on private land, not creating a market in offsets.
“I oppose any market scheme that will see the trading of biodiversity to offset habitat loss through development. The 2021 State of Environment Report was clear, we are out of environment and out of time.
“For all of the urgent reforms that need to be actioned, I will be arguing for significant federal government investment. We can absolutely afford the approximately $1.7 billion per year needed to really restore and protect Australia’s unique and precious wildlife and ecosystems. Private investment is no substitute for financial leadership and proper investment from the Commonwealth, matched by the States and Territories.
“I have heard from the strong, clear voices in our Canberra community and remain committed to working together closely with our with state, territory and federal Ministers to do our part,” said Minister Vassarotti.