HERITAGE ADVOCATE WELCOMES NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

Kado Muir. (Photo: First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance.)

The First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance has welcomed the federal government’s plans to reform environmental protection laws.

Last week, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act will be reformed and a federal Environmental Protection Agency will be established.

First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance Co-Chair Kado Muir said he hoped the planned laws would make up for poor state-based legislation.

“We have entire species that have become extinct because it’s in the economic interest to develop a project,” he said.

“Hopefully what we’ll see emerge from the federal government regimes is a national standard of environmental protection for prioritising conservation.”

Mr Muir also welcomed the opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to co-design the new legislation.