Back to Contents

Election update

 Environment 
       – a 'top five' hit
The looming federal election has the environment firmly in focus as one of the 'top five' issues concerning the community. But what does this mean in terms of actual election commitments from the parties? More importantly, what are the key outcomes for environment groups?

KATHY RIDGE, of NCC, looks at the big issues for voters in the upcoming election.

One of the most significant achievements of the
Federal government has been the introduction of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 which broadened and articulated the scope of Commonwealth Government involvement in environmental outcomes. The implementation of the Act has however not resulted in a 'seachange' of Commonwealth involvement as feared by the States, and continued political pressure from the National Party is perceived by some to have diminished the enforcement of the Act by the Commonwealth.

The Nature Conservation Council (NCC) has participated on two levels to ensure our member groups' concerns are heard above the background noise of the election campaign. We have been polling our member groups on their key issues of concern and participating in the national process with other environment groups on an election asks document and

NCC sent a member group survey, polling our groups on their key concerns. We had a very good response, particularly from the larger groups.



Willandra Lakes, part of Mungo National Park NSW, a declared World Heritage Area
 Photo:  Andrew Cox

NCC Focus revealed by survey results

– Preservation of publicly owned lands of high conservation value;

– Marine National Parks reservation;

– Loss of native vegetation and associated greenhouse, salinity,biodiversity losses;

– Urban expansion – including sustainable population & Coastal development;

– Water pollution

– Nuclear Reactor (Lucas Heights)

– Loss of forests including biomass.

National Parks Association (NPA) wish-list

· limit sale of Commonwealth lands;

· continuation of National Reserve System;

· implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy;

· 20% of marine habitats reserved as Marine Parks;

· implementation of Rangelands Strategy.

 

National environment groups including the ACF, Greenpeace, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth and the Conservation Councils who are interested in campaigning in the lead-up to the election for better environment outcomes have collated an 'election asks' document.

The following excerpts from the Reform Agenda should help guide and inform voters in deciding which parties will deliver the most for our environment:

"Environmental credibility for a modern Australian government depends on a coherent sustainability reform agenda to repair damage to our ancient and fragile country, protect our natural jewels and environmentally modernise our hot, heavy and wet economy.

Australia currently has laws, policies and an economy that makes a very heavy footprint on both the domestic and the global environment. On a per capita basis we use energy, water and other natural resources to a far greater degree than most other countries. We are faced with huge environmental problems such as climate change, salinity and biodiversity loss, and our role in deciding the future of the Earth’s climate is far greater than our population would indicate."

The Agenda states that a whole government approach is essential. Australia needs improved policies on:

• Environmental Modernisation and Greenhouse

• Repairing our Land and Waters

• Protecting Nature (Biodiversity)

• A Nuclear-free Australia

• National and International

Environmental leadership

Some highlights...

Environmental Modernisation

• Commit to a revenue-neutral carbon tax and/or auctioned ‘cap and trade’ greenhouse emissions trading scheme (with permits withdrawn over time). Revenue from these schemes should be recycled back into lowering labour costs (eg reducing or eliminating payroll tax)

• Provide tax incentives and credits for listed environmental modernisation innovations.

Reducing Greenhouse Pollution

• Commit now to ratify the Kyoto Protocol by the Rio +10 meeting in 2002.

• Commit to removing (ed:abandoning) native forests as a potential source of renewable energy

Transport

• Provide increased funding for sustainable transport, including allocation of a significant proportion of fuel excise for sustainable transport options, including:

Removing GST from public transport

Public transport expansion, upgrading and improvements

Increased cycling and pedestrian facilities

• Commit to a sustainable industry development plan for the car industry which encourages the manufacture of high fuel efficiency vehicles through government procurement.

Pollution

• Provide increased funding for the development and expansion of the National Pollution Inventory, including:

• expanding the number of substances reported under the scheme to international standards. Australia’s 96 reported substances contrasts with the US’s 650 and Japan and Canada’s approximate 200.

Land and Water Repair

• Introduce a decade-long land and water repair levy to fund a substantial portion of the public contribution.

Biodiversity – Protecting Forests

• Protect all old growth forests by preventing logging in identified forests;

Land clearing

• Amend the Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to list land clearing as a "matter of national environmental significance",

• Ensure that the supply and sale of firewood is licensed and appropriately regulated.

Biodiversity & Nature Conservation funding

• funding for the National reserve system at a level of $160m over next four years; funding for Australia’s 14 World Heritage sites to be at $150m over five years.

Social Capital

• Public funding for voluntary conservation organisations, through the Grants for Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations (GVEHO) program, to be increased to at least the total 1995/96 levels in real terms.

The Agenda also covers other important national environment policy areas, including a Nuclear-Free Australia and a National Oceans Policy for Marine conservation.

*Kathy Ridge 
is Executive Officer 
of the Nature Conservation Council

 

WANTED!

WILDERNESS CAMPAIGNER

The Colong Foundation requires an Assistant Director to undertake lobbying, research and a range of executive secretarial duties. Knowledge of and commitment to national park and wilderness issues, campaign experience and writing and public speaking experience essential.

Part-time, 3 days per week (flexible hours)

Wage: $15 per hour

For a job description contact Keith Muir on [02] 299 7314 or email: keith@colongwilderness.org.au

www.colongwilderness.org.au


Forest

 National Parks Association - Home Page
 
Other editions of the National Parks Journal 

Top of page


Forest