The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC) (Federal).

The report by Graeme Samuels on this Federal Act found that the environment was in a state of decline, flora and fauna being lost and their habitats cleared. Graeme Samuels recommended an independent “cop on the beat” to enforce new standards. Even before the final report was published, the government pushed a bill through the lower house which would delegate its environmental powers to the states. The bill was not passed by the senate and is still not passed. The government’s response to the final report has been vague and non-committal apart from noting an intention to propose a set of national environmental standards.

Mosman Parks & Bushland Association is grateful to the member for Warringah, Zali Steggall for her response to our concerns, for her letter to the minister and for her speech in parliament on 27 October 2020.