Webinar: Fixing our Nature Laws

Both the Federal and ACT Governments are currently reviewing our key nature laws. We know these laws are not working, being set up to let fossil fuel companies and developers run wild over our natural places. Federally, the EPBC Act has done nothing to stop Governments from approving large fossil fuel projects, nor to stop rapid land clearing and deforestation. In the ACT, our laws have been set up to facilitate the continued unsustainable sprawl of our city, resulting in 5 additional species being added to our threatened species list since 2020 - including the iconic Gang-Gang Cockatoo. 

But we have a unique opportunity to fix these problems. The Australian Government is reforming the EPBC Act in three ‘stages’, with the most substantive work still to come. In the ACT, The Nature Conservation Act, is undergoing a statutory review, with amendments to the legislation due in 2025. 

In this webinar we’ll talk through our national and local environment laws, why they’re failing, what needs to change, and where we’re up to with both political processes. You’ll hear from two leaders in the environment movement about the campaigns to fix these laws and how you can get involved. 

Simon Copland is the Executive Director of the Conservation Council ACT. The Conservation Council is leading a campaign to reform the ACT’s Nature Conservation Act to better protect our environment in the territory. 

Erin Farley is Senior Advocacy Manager with BirdLife Australia. BirdLife is a founding member of the Places You Love Alliance of 80+ groups campaigning for federal nature law reform.