Premier Baird just gutted the land-clearing laws that have been saving the lives of thousands of native animals like koalas, pygmy possums and squirrel gliders every year.
After several fiery hours of debate, it took just a few minutes for the final vote to seal the fate for our endangered wildlife. It’s a decision that will weigh heavily in the hearts of everyone who values our incredible wildlife, bushland and sustainable farming.
Chip in to help us hold Mike Baird to account for the destruction his laws will cause.
Your efforts haven’t been in vain. I know the laws would have been so much worse if you hadn’t taken a stand. I know that because together we have:
- Put Premier Baird on notice that his attacks on the things we value will be catapulted into the media spotlight and will damage his government’s reputation;
- Impacted the laws by securing important improvements such as excluding some areas like high conservation value grasslands, and critically endangered ecological communities; and ensuring that the Office of Environment and Heritage will be responsible for enforcing the law – not the Department of Primary Industries;
- Encouraged the Labor Party to commit to scrapping Mike Baird’s disastrous laws when they are next in government and replace them with strong protections for bushland and wildlife; and
- Supported thousands of people like you to stand up for what we believe in, growing the number of wildlife defenders who will continue to be a voice for nature.
– The plan –
With Mike Baird’s new laws due to take effect from July, our work is far from over. Over the coming months we will be:
- Calling for an investigation into the alleged illegal land clearing exposed by ABC’s Lateline program to undermine the credibility of this new legislation.
- Keeping an eye on the fine print – The devil will be in the detail and yet so much of how these laws will work hasn’t even been written. Early next year we are expecting the maps which underpin the legislation to be released, showing what land is able to be cleared without approval. We’ll be there every step of the way to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
- Exposing the damage – Once the trees start falling, we’ll shift gears and make sure that the damage caused by the laws is exposed in the media, to decision-makers and to law enforcement. We can’t turn away from the land clearing caused by these laws and neither can Mike Baird.
- And with you by our side we’ll lobby decision makers to see the light of day and build the case for why these laws simply can’t stand. Stay tuned for a Sydney rally in the coming weeks.
Don’t let Mike Baird get away with it. Donate to put this plan into action.
The outcome is disappointing, but we will not sit idle. Tomorrow, we hold the Baird government to account.
For nature,
Kate Smolski
CEO
Nature Conservation Council
