An alliance of WA environmental groups has launched a campaign for stronger nature protection laws.
Conservation Council WA Director Jess Beckerling the said the numbat, WA’s state emblem, along with many other species was at risk of extinction increasing threats from climate change, land clearing, fossil fuel expansion and pollution.
The “Animal Defenders” campaign features a numbat and a turtle with the tag “it’s not like they can defend themselves.”
“In the midst of the climate and biodiversity crisis, there is an attack on nature laws by powerful corporate interests,” she said.
In December 2023, Premier Roger Cook launched a legislative overhaul to ‘slash green tape’ welcomed by the state’s resource sector after a review that lasted less than seven weeks.
At the time Cook said the Environmental Protection Authority “is not independent of government,” a stance contrary to the understanding of environmental groups.
Then EPA chair Matthew Tonts pushed back against the notion that current legislation was the cause of long wants for environmental assessment of new projects.
“The number one thing is we need people to be able to do that work,” he said in January.
Australian Marine Conservation Society Wa director Paul Gamblin said Western Australians identified deeply with the state’s nature and natural places.
“The broad community expects our members of federal and state parliaments to strengthen nature laws, not weaken them at the behest of vested corporate interests,” Gamblin said.
“It’s crucial that strong national nature laws be delivered in this term of government to protect our much-loved natural places like Ningaloo, Shark Bay and the Margaret River region.”