Environment Groups petition international body
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 to investigate Australia’s non? compliance with its obligations at international law.
The Convention has been given a report detailing the Abbott government’s plans to hand down environment protection powers to the states and why this will escalate environmental losses.
“Australia’s natural landscapes, forests and wildlife are in diabolical decline, yet our already inadequate laws are planned to be weakened further” said Jill Redwood from EEG. “Australia is failing to meet its international conservation commitments”.
“We have been forced to take legal action against the state government three times and these actions have shown the government is unable and unwilling to protect our environment and wildlife”, said Ms Redwood. “It is clear that the situation is desperate and we are shining an international spotlight on Australia’s appallingly bad record for sacrificing species in order to assist development, mining and logging interests.”
For comments:
Jill Redwood – EEG, 5154 0145
Felicity Millner – EJA, 0427 766855 or (03) 8341 3110