Article
Australia’s Environmental Legislation Inadequate for Antarctica Wilderness
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 7 May 2021
Australia’s environmental legislation is inadequate for Antarctica’s wilderness.
An article published by the Lowy Institute on 3 May raises serious concerns about the litany of problems with the proposed Davis Airport which the Australian Government and Australian Antarctic Division are prepared to ignore.
Despite the huge environmental impact of the Davis Airport, the Australian Government has said that no decisions will be made until the Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation is completed. However, the Lowy Institute has highlighted Australia’s lack of adequate legislation to properly assess the environmental impacts of the proposal and the shortcomings of the EPBC Act regarding the Antarctic. The recent Samuels review found that the EBPC Act is failing to protect Australia’s environment.
“The fact that the EPBC act might not be able to properly assess the massive disturbance footprint of the Davis Airport is a major concern,” said Alistair Allan, BBF Antarctic Campaigner.
“This project is estimated to increase humanity’s impact on the continent by 40%. That means that the Australian Government will be responsible for almost half of all environmental impacts in Antarctica.”
“If Australia’s legislation can’t comprehensively assess the impact of the Davis Airport within the current legal frameworks, then it simply should not go ahead.”
“Bob Brown Foundation agrees with the Lowy Institute’s conclusion that, in setting such a bad precedent, Australia will invite other countries to do the same.”
“The hope of this project is to plant Australia’s flag as a leader in the Antarctic but it will have us forever remembered as the environmental villains of the continent,” Mr Allan said.
The Davis aerodrome and Australia’s leadership in the Antarctic
How can Australia pretend to uphold the ATS while pursuing a project that risks unprecedented ecological impact?
Since the Davis aerodrome project in Antarctica was proposed in 2018 by the Australian government, there have been continuing debates about the potential environmental costs, as well as its geopolitical implications, in light of Australia’s sovereign claims to 42% of the frozen continent and its adjacent waters. The government has stated the proposed paved runway near the Davis research station will provide “reliable year-round aviation access to Antarctica” in addition to the existing ice runway at Wilkins aerodrome, which is only suitable in summer months.
What has so far been overlooked in the discussions, however, is how adequately Australia’s environmental legal framework applies to the assessment of the environmental impact of the Davis aerodrome project. In this regard, the findings of the recent Samuel Review of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), published in late 2020, provide an opportunity for new analysis.
Featured image: RAAF C-17A Globemaster III at Wilkins Aerodrome in Antarctica for Operation Southern Discovery 20/21 (Defence Department).