2015-11-25
The Greens congratulate Minister Jacob for a new act for biodiversity and conservation on the precipice of what is shaping up to be one of Western Australia’s most fierce environmental campaigns to save the Beeliar wetlands.
"A Bill to replace WA’s outdated Wildlife Conservation Act is a welcome step although given the time lag since the draft legislation was first proposed it will warrant careful public scrutiny,” Greens Biodiversity Spokesperson Lynn MacLaren MLC says.
“It has been 14 years since the former Labor Government came to power promising an overhaul of WA wildlife conservation laws and we have had successive Labor and Liberal governments since then promise to introduce new biodiversity legislation without managing to do so,” Ms MacLaren said.
“The Minister therefore deserves congratulations for getting this Bill this far.
“More incentives to protect and conserve the environment are welcome as are increased penalties as deterrents for offences against wildlife but unlike the Federal EPBC Act, this Bill stops short of jail terms, which means some offenders may be prepared to take the risk.