Deadly 1080 poison was broadcast across forested land in Gippsland and NE Victoria during May in an attempt to placate certain sheep farmers. How’s this for contradictory spin. “The sites were chosen for their inaccessibility and remoteness, proximity to private land … and the absence of spot tailed quolls”. Close to farms but inaccessible? Absence …
Boral, the logging and woodchipping baddy of Northern NSW has just announced it will be stopping woodchipping at the end of June, selling up its woodchipping business and exit sections of its sawn timber business. Why? The reason it gave was because of “…the strength of the Australian dollar and associated high volume of imports, …
The Abbott government’s plan to trust environmental protection to the states will put our country’s natural landmarks in danger. I am a big believer in states’ rights, but you’ve got to know where to stop. If there’s one thing the Abbott government’s Commission of Audit got right it’s that our system of eight separate states …
FIFTEEN years ago the Howard government introduced sweeping changes to national environmental laws, with the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Its objective was, and still is, to provide for the protection of the environment and promote the conservation of biodiversity. The act was built around an intergovernmental agreement allocating different responsibilities to the states …
Eight environment groups are turning to an international umpire to help combat the Abbott Government’s plan to dismantle environmental protection laws. The international Convention of Biological Diversity has been given a report detailing the Abbott government’s plans to hand down environment protection powers to the states and why this will worsen environmental losses. The next …
The Gippsland Lakes remain gravely ill. One response by the government has been the creation of a new on-line forum that asks for public comment on our Lakes management. It has the joyful title of GLEE (Gippsland Lakes E-Engagement). The concept is great and if you’re interested in having a say (currently looking at the …
As CSIRO announced that Australia is experiencing the fastest rate of mammalian decline in the world, eight environment groups have turned to an international umpire to help combat the Commonwealth Government’s attack on biodiversity laws. Environment East Gippsland along with the ACF, Lawyers for Forests and Environment Justice Australia is petitioning the Convention on Biodiversity …
Incompetence, chaos and lack of direct attack on bushfires in far East Gippsland saw 170,000 ha burnt in January and February this year. Why did this happen when so much more could have been done? Many of the problems experienced were avoidable. The Emergency Services Commissioner and Minister has only offered an internal review. The …
The climate system is in a foul mood. From “angry summer” to “abnormal autumn” – we’re running out of words to describe the relentless extreme weather that Australia is experiencing as global temperatures continue to increase because of climate change. Now the exceptional heat has carried on into the autumn of 2014 in Australia. The …
