EPBC Act experts available for comment on upcoming report

Professor Graeme Samuel will tomorrow release an interim report in his review of Australia’s federal environmental legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The much anticipated interim report is a milestone in the statutory independent review of the twenty year old legislation which is expected to build the case for reform. The final report is due in October. The publication of the interim report follows the publication last week of a scathing report into administration of the Act by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO). The ANAO findings support arguments for an independent regulator, a key piece of reform HSI has been recommending.

Humane Society International (HSI) is available for comment on both the audit report and the interim report. We hope Professor Samuel’s report will highlight the need for much stronger laws to address the extinction crisis facing Australia. Among improvements HSI is calling for are stronger protective measures, enhanced national leadership, independent science-based decision making and meaningful community participation, coupled with significant additional investment.

Nicola Beynon is HSI Australia’s Head of Campaigns and was one of a small team of conservationists who helped negotiate passage of the EPBC Act through Parliament in 1999 and has worked closely with the legislation ever since.

Alexia Wellbelove is HSI Australia’s Senior Campaign Manager who has worked closely with the legislation since 2009 and was responsible for establishing the Places You Love alliance in 2012 following threats posed by the devolution of approval powers to states and territories under the Act.

Both Nicola and Alexia have managed several court cases HSI seeking compliance with the EPBC Act, as well as having been responsible for nominating numerous threatened species for listing under the Act and members of their recovery teams.

Read HSI’s response to the ANAO Report here.