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national environment law petition

Labor is negotiating nature laws with the same party that just abandoned net zero - and big business is cheering them on.

If the major parties do a deal, we’ll be left with watered-down laws that ignore climate impacts, leave native forests unprotected, and give mining and fossil fuel companies even more influence.
All 4 NT land councils have spoken out in opposition to the changes, as have 130 grassroots environment groups including ALEC. Add your voice to the call by signing the petition to our local member Marion Scrymgour:

Will you sign?

PETITION: To Marion Scrymgour MP,
Member for Lingiari

We, the undersigned, call on you to publicly oppose labor passing the EPBC reforms with the coalition's support. In their current form, these laws would weaken Australia’s national environmental protections and fast-track damaging projects without proper scrutiny.

The proposed changes pose an unacceptable threat to Country, climate, water, and communities. In particular:

  1. Cutting Out Community Voices:
    The new “streamlined assessment” process would shut out Traditional Owners, local communities, and the broader public from having a say in fracking, mining and other high-impact projects. This strips away democratic participation and ignores those who are most affected.

  2. Ignoring Climate Impacts:
    Any credible environmental law must consider the climate consequences of proposed projects. The impacts of direct and downstream greenhouse gas pollution—and their environmental and social effects—must be part of all decision-making.

  3. Risk to Matters of National Significance:
    The CLP-led NT Government cannot be trusted to take responsibility for decisions of national environmental significance. Entrusting them with the water trigger, in particular, risks irreversible damage to fragile ecosystems and critical water resources.

  4. Unprecedented Ministerial Power:
    Granting sweeping powers for the Minister to issue binding “rulings” is an anti-democratic power grab. These powers could be used to secure sweetheart deals for mining companies at the expense of communities, Country and climate.

  5. A Flawed ‘Pay to Destroy’ Scheme:
    Creating a system where companies can simply pay into a fund to clear habitat is deeply flawed. It incentivises destruction rather than protection and undermines the core purpose of environmental laws.

  6. Excluding First Nations Leadership:
    First Nations people have not been given a meaningful role in assessment or approval processes for actions that harm the environment. There is no requirement to consider cultural impacts, despite Country and culture being inseparable.

We urge you to stand firm against this proposal that weakens national environmental protections, cuts out communities, and places corporate interests over Country, climate, and cultural heritage.

As our elected representative, we call on you to publicly reject making a deal with the Coalition to push these harmful changes through Parliament and advocate for meaningful reform to protect our environment. Australia needs stronger, not weaker, environment laws.

 

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