Tag: EPBC Act
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Will Labor’s environment laws actually address Australia’s biodiversity crisis? Five reasons to be concerned
Introduction: The stakes of Australia’s biodiversity crisis Australia faces a profound biodiversity challenge. Endangered species, collapsing habitats, and mounting threats from development and climate change have put many of our unique ecosystems at risk. With the Albanese government proposing sweeping changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, questions are rising about whether…
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New Environment Laws: A minister’s influence could shape Australia’s ecological future
Background: Australia’s environment law and its challenges Australia’s environmental framework has long sought to balance conservation with development. The national environment law, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act), has faced criticism for failing to halt the ongoing loss of unique ecosystems, plants, and animals over more than two decades. Critics argue…
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How Ministers Could Shape Australia’s Environment Law and Biodiversity Outcomes
Introduction: The power of policy oversight Australia’s national environment law, long a cornerstone for protecting unique ecosystems, plants, and animals, has struggled to halt biodiversity loss for more than two decades. While the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) and related state arrangements provide a framework, the role of ministers—responsible for setting policy…
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Can Australia’s New Environment Laws Turn the Tide for Nature?
Why Australia Is Reconsidering Its Environment Framework For a generation, Australia’s natural treasures have faced persistent threats—from shrinking wetlands to dwindling marsupial populations. Critics say the national environment law has failed to stem this loss over the past 25 years, raising questions about whether reforms can deliver real protection. As policymakers debate changes, the central…
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Woodside Case Exposes Gaps in Australia’s Environment Protection Law
The Woodside decision and what it reveals about Australia’s environment law The federal government’s 74‑page statement of reasons for approving a 40‑year life extension of the Woodside‑operated North West Shelf gas plant offers a revealing snapshot of how Australia’s environment law is applied in practice. The document shows that the environment department accepted warnings that…
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The Woodside case exposes Australia’s environment protection law as failing Indigenous heritage and ecosystems
Introduction: what the Woodside decision reveals about Australia’s environmental safeguards Australia’s main environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act), is often framed as a shield for nature and culture. But the Woodside case—centered on the North West Shelf gas plant in Western Australia—reads more like a case study in how that…
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EPBC Act under scrutiny: Woodside North West Shelf case
The Woodside case and the EPBC Act in the crosshairs Australia’s environmental protection regime is under renewed scrutiny as the Woodside-operated North West Shelf gas project faces a 40-year life extension in Western Australia. The federal government’s 74-page statement of reasons reveals a tension that has long defined the EPBC Act: how to balance energy…