EPA reforms must be more than ‘shifting deckchairs’

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren says a proposed re-organisation and streamlining of the Environmental Protection Authority’s policies and procedures announced today will amount to ‘shifting deck- chairs on the Titanic’ unless it addresses core community concerns about environmental protection. 
“While more clarity and a simplifying of the processes and guidelines for assessment will make life easier for proponents and possibly community members who engage with the EPA this won’t by itself address the fears the community has about insufficient protection for the environment,” Ms MacLaren said. 
“The concerns that people are expressing to me about the EPA is that it is not doing what it is supposed to do, which is, to quote its own website, to do its best to protect the environment and prevent or reduce pollution and environmental harm. 
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