Australia Needs Strong New Nature Laws Now

Australia’s environment is in serious decline. The independent 2020 Samuel Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) found the law has failed to protect biodiversity, the “environmental trajectory is unsustainable”, and the Act must be fundamentally rebuilt around strong, enforceable national environmental standards and robust independent oversight.

Despite differing missions, Australia’s major conservation and environment organisations share a strong consensus about what new nature laws must deliver. Here's a rundown on what they are all saying, with some advice on how to add your own voice.

Peak bodies’ shared priorities

The Queensland Conservation Council, Invasive Species Council, Biodiversity Council, Environmental Defenders Office, WWF-Australia and the Australian Conservation Foundation all consistently call for:

1. Legally enforceable national environmental standards Clear rules, not vague guidelines.

2. A fully independent federal EPA A national watchdog with real investigative and enforcement powers.

3. Closing loopholes that allow habitat destruction Especially around deforestation, sectoral exemptions and cumulative impacts.

4. Stronger protections for threatened species and critical habitats Backed by data, mapping and science.

5. Clear, binding rules on “unacceptable impacts” So actions that drive species towards extinction cannot be approved.

6. Accountability, transparency and community participation Decisions must be open to scrutiny, challenge and public oversight.

Additional priorities from each organisation

With the shared national message set out above, here is what each partner uniquely adds to the call for reform.

Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) places particular emphasis on:

• Full implementation of all 38 Samuel Review recommendations

• Stronger national oversight to prevent ongoing illegal and high-risk land clearing

• Ensuring devolution of approvals to states does not weaken protections

• Better recognition of cumulative impacts, especially in Queensland’s rapidly developing regions
  

Invasive Species Council (ISC) highlights that invasive species are the leading cause of extinction pressures under the EPBC Act. They add calls for:

• Major strengthening of threat-abatement and recovery mechanisms

• Precautionary biosecurity and live-import standards

• Broader taxonomic coverage at the border

• National prohibited lists for high-risk invasive species

• Systematic national monitoring and reporting

  
  

The Biodiversity Council emphasises the need for nature laws to be the backbone of Australia’s nature-positive commitments. They add calls for:

• Measurable, time-bound national goals for nature recovery

• Stronger integration of Indigenous knowledge, rights and governance

• Tools that drive real reductions in land clearing and ecosystem decline

• A national framework that ensures restoration and stewardship, not just protection

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) adds a sharper focus on:

• Rewriting the EPBC Act into new, modern legislation

• A strong system of independent oversight and assurance (including an Assurance Commissioner)

• A well-resourced compliance division with full investigative powers

• Strengthened community rights, including merits review and public-interest standing

WWF highlights the scale of habitat loss and non-compliance. They add calls for:

• Removal of deforestation exemptions and carve-outs

• Strong requirements for habitat protection before damage occurs

• Clear and enforceable definitions of “unacceptable impact”

• National laws that specifically address non-compliance in northern Australia

Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) frames law reform around urgency and system change. They add calls for:

• Closing loopholes that allow large-scale land clearing

• Ending industry-specific exemptions

• Modernising Australia’s nature laws to reflect climate and extinction risks

• National standards that ensure consistency across states and territories

Climate Council of Australia emphasises that Australia’s national nature laws must directly address the accelerating impacts of climate change — and that the current EPBC Act fails to do so. They add calls for:

• Climate to become a Matter of National Environmental Significance (MNES) so that new coal, gas and other high-emissions projects are assessed for their climate impacts, not just their local footprint.

• Assessments that consider scope 1, 2 and relevant scope 3 emissions, ensuring fossil fuel projects face meaningful scrutiny.

• Nature laws that enable a fast, fair renewable energy transition, including quicker approvals for good-quality renewable and transmission projects while blocking projects that worsen climate risks.

• Stronger integration between nature laws and Australia’s Paris Agreement obligations, ensuring decisions do not undermine national climate goals.

• Legal mechanisms that protect nature from climate-driven threats such as extreme heat, fires, marine heatwaves and ecosystem collapse.

How you can help

Reforming Australia’s national environment laws will only happen if communities demand it. Here’s how you can make a meaningful contribution: QCC has a handy tool to help you get get heard, by helping send an email to your Federal Member and the Environment Minister, via this easy link: https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/email_your_federal_mp Share the need for strong nature laws through your networks:

Post and share on Socials about the need for stronger nature laws

If you want to go further, email your own submission to federal MP Terry Young, Environment Minister Murray Watt and Queensland Senators asking them to support at a minimum, the inclusion of the shared priorities, all the recommendations of the Samuel Review and any other personal priorities that you feel passionately about. Here's a list of the email addresses to copy your message to: Federal MP for Longman Terry Young terry.young.mp@aph.gov.au

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt minister.watt@dcceew.gov.au

Qld’s Senators

Senator Penny Allman-Payne senator.allman-payne@aph.gov.au

Senator the Hon. Matthew Canavan senator.canavan@aph.gov.au

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm senator.chisholm@aph.gov.au

Senator the Hon. Nita Green senator.green@aph.gov.au

Senator Pauline Hanson senator.hanson@aph.gov.au

Senator Susan McDonald senator.mcdonald@aph.gov.au

Senator the Hon. James McGrath senator.mcgrath@aph.gov.au

Senator Corinne Mulholland senator.mulholland@aph.gov.au

Senator Malcolm Roberts senator.roberts@aph.gov.au

Senator Paul Scarr senator.scarr@aph.gov.au

Senator Larissa Waters senator.waters@aph.gov.au

Senator the Hon. Murray Watt senator.watt@aph.gov.au

Your voice matters

This is the most significant opportunity in nearly 25 years to fix Australia’s broken nature laws. If we get it right, we will finally have protections that safeguard habitats, wildlife and cultural landscapes for generations to come. Together, we can win strong new nature laws.