Today, 15 January 2014, WikiLeaks released the secret draft text for the entire TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Environment Chapter and the corresponding Chairs’ Report. The TPP transnational legal regime would cover 12 countries initially and encompass 40 per cent of global GDP and one-third of world trade. The Environment Chapter has long been sought by journalists …
The Australian government’s “direct action” policy is like giving money to an illegal drug dealer to stop dealing drugs, then having no penalty if he keeps selling them. Moderate conservative that he is, Australian environment minister Greg Hunt ran on a platform of “lean” government, where private businesses “are the true creators of wealth”, individuals …
In the closing days of this year, Australia’s unique and fragile environment is under attack like never before. After just 100 days in government, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has waged a war on environmental programs. In this week’s budget update the government cut $6.7 million from the Caring for our Country program, removed federal funding …
The Abbott government’s announcement to suddenly cut the funding of the Environment Defenders Office is a hostile, cowardly and shameless attack on the country’s most respected environmental legal voice. Funding that was promised by the previous Labor government has been withdrawn and comes at a time when there is an unprecedented and unremitting attack on …
The state government has withheld from the Commonwealth a survey of rare and threatened plants of an area of the Alpine National Park earmarked for a cattle grazing trial. It is believed scientists at the state’s biodiversity research body – the Arthur Rylah Institute – were asked to look for rare and threatened plants in …
The states and territories have buddied up with Tony Abbott at COAG today (13.12.13)to gut national environment protection. “States and territories have all made dodgy deals with Tony Abbott today to slash federal environment protection,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said. “These deals pave the way for Tony Abbott to abolish a 30-year-old …
This audit examined whether Victoria’s native forest timber resources on public land are being managed productively and sustainably. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), VicForests and the Department of Treasury and Finance are managing the timber resources in a productive way that delivers socio-economic benefits to regional communities. VicForests has demonstrated that its …
The Victorian government plans to introduce far reaching changes to Victoria’s native vegetation laws this month. If you’re wondering why the government is referring to changes to Victoria’s native vegetation protection laws as “permitted clearing regulations” then this map will set you straight. White = vegetation already lost. Blue = “low risk”. Most low risk …
Ministers will no longer be forced to consider formal conservation advice for endangered species in projects approved before the end of this year, under changes to the national environment law agreed on by the Coalition and Labor. The pact between the two major parties effectively eliminates implications of a landmark case earlier this year in …
The petrolhead haven of Calder Park is normally dominated by drag racing and hot rods. But if state government mapping is to be believed, then the race track’s infield is also the unlikely home for rare native plants. Over in Greensborough, the Yandell Reserve supports orchids known as Silurian striped greenhoods and is a breeding …
