EBPC amendments fail to close loophole that drives Queensland's deforestation

The EPBC amendments introduced into Parliament must be strengthened to address habitat loss, the greatest threat to endangered species, says the Queensland Conservation Council.

Queensland has the most threatened species in Australia, and our state is overwhelmingly in first place when it comes to rates of deforestation, with an estimated 1 million hectares of forest and woodland bulldozed in Queensland since the Albanese government took office.

Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said

These laws, as they are currently proposed, are inadequate to protect koalas and the Great Barrier Reef. Both are facing a death sentence, and out of control deforestation is driving both to the brink.

Clearing of forests destroys koala habitat and results in sediment and nutrient flows that silt up the Great Barrier Reef. 44% of all deforestation in the most recent year we have figures was in Great Barrier Reef catchment areas.

While wind farms, mines and roads are usually assessed under the EPBC Act for the proposed impact that their deforestation will have on threatened species, clearing for pasture development is not.

In comments this morning on Radio National, Minister Watt acknowledged the bill doesn't currently address this loophole, in spite of environmental groups' persistent demands.

There is much to be welcomed in Minister Watt's amendments, including the inclusion of unacceptable impacts, a requirement for net gain in restoration, an independent EPA with stronger stop work powers and penalties, and national environmental standards. Yet without closing the deforestation loophole embedded in the current Act, none of these changes will stop the 300,000+ hectares of deforestation that occurs every year in Queensland.

We are calling on Minister Murray Watt to strengthen his laws to address the deforestation crisis, and for the Greens to make the deforestation loophole a priority in their negotiations to improve and pass these amendments.

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