Environment laws to be reviewed in bid to clear green tape

A once-in-a-decade review of Australia’s environmental law will be held in a bid to ensure clear and simple decisions are made in a contentious policy area.

Former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ACCC Graeme Samuel. Picture: AAP

A former competition watchdog chairman has been charged with conducting a once-in-a-decade review of Australia’s environmental law in a bid to reduce green tape and ensure clear and simple decisions are made in a contentious policy area.

Farming and wilderness groups seized on the release of the terms of reference for the review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which Environment Minister Sussan Ley declared was not about ideology.

Former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Graeme Samuel will lead the review with an expert panel including indigenous leader Bruce Martin, senior minerals and petroleum adviser Erica Smyth, Climate Change Authority chair Wendy Craik and environmental law and policy expert Andrew Macintosh.

“The one thing all sides of the environmental debate concede is that the complexities of the Act are leading to unnecessary delays in reaching decisions and to an increased focus on process rather than outcomes,” Ms Ley said.

“Delays in EPIC decisions are estimated to cost the economy around $300 million a year and frustrate both business and environmental groups. The Act has been a world benchmark in environmental protection but needs to be adapted to changes in the environment and economy.

“I’ve asked Professor Samuel to look at how we can improve efficiency and make clear and simple decisions that deliver strong, clear and focused environmental protection.”

National Farmers’ Federation CEO Tony Mahar labelled the Act convoluted and said it did not adequately recognise the relationship between biodiversity, conservation and agriculture.

Many of the recommendations made when it was last reviewed in 2009 had still not been implemented and remained relevant, he said.

“Farmers continue to provide public good conservation outcomes at their own private cost. Rebalancing that equation using emerging market opportunities remains an important focus for the farm sector,” Mr Mahar said.

The Wilderness Society called on Scott Morrison and Ms Ley to put native species at the heart of the EPIC review and was concerned with the independent panel’s lack of knowledge in saving endangered species.

“There is one clear practical test of whether our environmental laws are successful: can we protect our wildlife and end the major threats to their survival? Right now we can’t,” the Wilderness Society’s Suzanne Milthorpe said.

“The responsibility rests with Scott Morrison and Sussan Ley to use this review of Australia’s nature conservation laws to turnaround our lamentable record of species loss and environmental decline.”

A discussion paper is due to be released next month to kickstart stakeholder meetings.

Professor Samuel will deliver a report to Ms Ley within a year of the review’s commencement.