The Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation (ACBF) has welcomed the EPBC reform statement issued by mining giant, Rio Tinto, yesterday.
The statement included an endorsement of the need for strong National Environmental Standards: a nature positive trajectory for Australia and strengthened and independent compliance and enforcement powers.
Rio’s statement echoes recent public support from some of Australia’s largest renewable energy companies who are also seeking National Environment Standards and support from the Australian Industry Group for comprehensive environmental law reform.
“There is deep support for reform of Australia’s environment laws from some of Australia’s largest companies that are the biggest users of the environmental assessment and approval provisions of the existing national environment laws and there is genuine support for the creation of strong new national environmental standards.”
“Environmental standards were the centrepiece of the wide-ranging reforms recommended by Professor Graeme Samuel in his independent review of the laws in 2019.”
“The opportunity exists for political parties to work together to strengthen and pass the Nature Positive bills presently before the Australian Senate, including providing a legislative basis for the making of National Environment Standards that can be good for the environment and good for the economy.”