… Tony Abbott’s ‘one-stop shop’ of environmental destruction
The federal Senate has called on the Giddings Government to reject Tony Abbott’s plan to gut national environment protection, which the Prime Minister is trying to sign states and territories up to at COAG tomorrow.
“Tony Abbott wants to take away a 30-year-old federal veto power to protect our most precious wildlife and wilderness, by leaving state governments to approve environmentally destructive projects,” Tasmanian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said.
“This important federal safeguard for nationally significant environment assets was first established when Bob Hawke stepped in to save the Franklin River from being dammed.
“Now Tony Abbott is rounding up state governments to have them take on this federal responsibility at the Council of Australian Governments meeting in Canberra tomorrow.
“If the Giddings Government signs up, it will be counter to federal Labor’s position, which was demonstrated yesterday, when federal Labor supported a Greens’ motion against the hand off in the Senate.
“Signing up would see the Giddings Government destroy Bob Hawke’s legacy of federal environment protection, which was created here in Tasmania,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said Tony Abbott’s plan to hand federal protections to state governments risked our most iconic places and wildlife across the country.
“Queensland’s Campbell Newman and New South Wales’ Barry O’Farrell have already signed up, paving the way to give them sole control of the Great Barrier Reef and the Blue Mountains,” Senator Waters said.
“National icons loved by all Australians deserve national protection, to preserve them in the national interest.
“Not only does Tony Abbott’s plan do away with decades of national environment protection now and into the future, it means much more work for state environment departments, many of which have suffered severe job losses.
“Handing over federal powers also opens up state governments to court action that previously federal governments would be responsible for, especially as international environment treaties are involved in these major approval decisions.
“We urge the Giddings Government to loudly reject this destructive plan, which would jeopardise Tasmania’s globally renowned wilderness and the state’s clean, green reputation,” Senator Waters said.
Senators Peter Whish-Wilson, Larissa Waters
