The government is planning to hand over environmental approval powers to the states through COAG, thereby weakening our environmental law reforms, and threatening unique Australian ecosystems and species. This would mean project approvals could occur without federal oversight. Unfortunately, the states can't be trusted to look after the environment. State governments have a track record of putting short-term gains ahead of national interest when assessing development proposals. Some major points:
• The COAG agenda is being driven by big business interests.
• The handing over of powers to the states is intended to ensure even more rapid approvals of major and often destructive developments
• It will not improve protection of places that are special to us.
• Our national environmental laws are not working now – handing them to the states will make them much worse much faster
• Virtually every environmental indicator in Australia is in decline, even the Great Barrier Reef. (see, State of the Environment Report 2011) – we need stronger protections, not weaker