The NSW Farmers Association has told Western Plains App Farmers they are concerned the design of a new federal environmental watchdog has failed to consider farmers interests and could lead to land being unnecessary “locked up” for use. 

In an interview with the Western Plains App Bronwyn Petrie chair of the NSW Farmers' Association Conservation & Resource Management Committee said the agriculture industry was nervous about the new Environmental Protection Agency partially because there were no mention of farmers or farming interests in the Federal Government’s accompanying Nature Positive Plan released when it announced the changes earlier this month. 

“People are worried because often these agencies are a way of shutting down all activities. There has been no talk of how this will impact farmers by the governments, it has all been about nature conservation. I am concerned the people making the decisions have no idea how farming works,” Petrie told the Western Plains App. 

The creation of a new EPA was flagged this month by the federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek as part of a raft significant changes to Australia’s national environment laws designed to stop Australia's high rate of species extinction. 

The exact form and powers of the new EPA is not yet known but it will have the power to decide on whether some developments can go ahead - a function previously undertaken by the Minister’s Office.  

“Our Nature Positive Plan will be better for the environment by delivering stronger laws designed to repair nature, to protect our precious plants and animals and places. For the first time our laws will introduce standards that decisions must meet. Standards describe the environmental outcomes that we’re seeking,” Plibersek said. 

 “We want an economy that is nature-positive to halt destruction and repair nature."

ABOVE: Bronwyn Petrie from the NSW Farmers Association also told the Western Plains App there was not enough industry representation at Ministerial workshops leading up to the announcement. Picture: NSW Farmers Association. 

The great unknowns

The reforms will see the biggest changes to Australia's environment laws in 20 years. Along with assessing new development applications and also ensure compliance with new laws which include new environmental standards that look set to strengthen protection in particular for threatened species and Aboriginal heritage. 

“We don’t know what the new laws are just yet. I am concerned we will see more land be locked up. We all want to save threatened species, but land needs to be managed. Locking up land does not protect it,” Petrie told the Western Plains App.

The proposed shake-up follows a review of Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act by Professor Graeme Samuel in 2020 which showed Australia’s laws were failing to protect vulnerable species and had not slowed the nation’s extinction rate.  The Government accepted all Professor Samuel's recommendations.  

The EPA will be guided by “mandatory guidelines to inform the development and submission of environmental, social and economic information in support of applications,” the government’s paper said.  

Which developments the new agency has the power to assess appear related to the announcement of a three-tier system which designates an area of high, moderate or low environmental value. Land determined to have little environmental value is not expected to require watchdog approval.

Region-wide factors are also believed to factor into the new EPA decisions so development across a whole region will be taken in account when deciding if land can be managed or cleared. 

Red tape or real reform?

World Wildlife Fund Australia’s Chief Conservation Officer, Rachel Lowry said the response to the Samuel review “outlines some significant and long overdue reforms to tackle Australia’s extinction crisis.” 

She said the “lack of enforcement” was the “single greatest failing” of the old laws, “so we’re pleased to see an EPA at the heart of the government’s plan.” 

“It’s vital that this agency has the resources and independence to audit major projects and ensure every Australian, business and industry is doing the right thing for nature.” 

The Minerals Council of Australia Chief Executive Officer Tania Constable says a new Environment Protection Agency is outsourcing “critical decision making on environmental approvals to an unelected, unaccountable approvals body”. 

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton told the Western Plains App “The Western Plains is a highly productive agricultural area, so we need common sense and practical solutions that will help the environment while also benefitting our farmers and our economy. Our farmers don’t need more red tape making it harder for them to make a profit or grow their businesses”. 

Petrie says the Government must ensure it is consulting with the agricultural industry as it finalises the new laws and the agency. 

“There is a triple bottom line here - environmental, social but also economic”.