Environment groups are threatening to mobilise more than 2 million people if the Rudd government gives in to business demands to slash green tape and hand all development approval powers back to the states.
Groups including the Australian Conservation Foundation Greenpeace, WWF, and the Wilderness Society held what they described as an ”emergency meeting” on Wednesday.
They have been spooked by a renewed push by the business community and Coalition states to scrap the multi-layered approvals process that allows the federal Environment Minister to intervene in contentious developments in sensitive areas, including new mines.
The groups warn that giving ”cash-strapped” states full power over approvals will lead to a rash of mining approvals without thorough environmental safeguards.
Foundation chief executive Don Henry said Australia could also ”kiss goodbye” to the World Heritage status of the Great Barrier Reef if the Queensland government agreed to the proposed expansion of its coal ports from Gladstone to Cape York.
Former environment minister Tony Burke expanded the federal government’s reach in March by including a ”water trigger” in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act - adding new environmental assessment criteria on gas and coal projects.
But environment groups are worried Mr Rudd, who has flagged his intention to heal the rift between Labor and business, could cut a deal and weaken regulation.
In a letter to Mr Rudd, the environment groups warned of the ”continual erosion of environmental laws and protections by recently installed state governments”.
”These attacks include gutting state environment departments with significant cuts to staff and resources, reductions in third-party rights and reduced oversight by environment portfolio ministers as decision-making powers are fast-tracked and handed solely to development ministers,” it states.
”Increasingly we are seeing state governments demonstrating a blatant disregard for Australia’s national and international obligations to the protection of biodiversity … You will no doubt be familiar with the recent activities of the Queensland government in this regard.”
Environment Minister Mark Butler said: “The government is committed to working with state and territory governments to create a more efficient and effective environmental approval system, however we won’t compromise on our high environmental standards.”
