Labor Urged to Reject Weakening Environment Laws
Senator Sarah Hanson Young, Greens Spokesperson for the Environment and Water has responded to the Albanese Government’s environment announcement today.
“The extra money for environmental conservation is welcome. However $50m a year is a drop in the ocean of what is needed to halt the destruction of our forests and wildlife and reverse the damage big corporations are having on our natural landscape.
“Sadly, today’s announcement is a fig leaf for a government that has consistently backed the big coal and gas mines and the rotting salmon companies at the expense of Mother Nature.
“While the Environment Minister is out announcing limited funding for protected areas, the Prime Minister is doing deals with the Dutton Coalition to ram through legislation that will trash our environment laws and push ancient marine life to extinction.
“You can’t say you’re protecting the environment in one area while working to trash it everywhere else.
“$50m a year is nothing in comparison to the $12.5B of subsidies given to the fossil fuel industry last year alone. This announcement is not the dial shift nature needs.
“To truly protect the environment the government must stop approving and subsidising its destruction. We need decisive leadership to end native forest logging, protect threatened wildlife and address the climate crisis.
“The major parties have shown time and time again they will side with big corporations who want to keep polluting and destroying our environment. In a minority government, the Greens will hold Labor to account and fight for stronger action to safeguard our precious environment and stop our wildlife going extinct.”
https://greens.org.au/news/media-release/labor-must-rule-out-trashing-environment-laws-if-they-want-truly-protect-nature