Independent statement on the Group of Eight’s position on EPBC Act reforms The federal Parliament is currently considering amendments to the flagship federal environmental legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (‘EPBC Act’). This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen environmental protections to reverse Australia’s current trajectory of extinctions and biodiversity loss. We are academics at the institutions in the Group of Eight (Go8), with expertise in biodiversity conservation science, climate science, policy, economics and law. We support amendments to the EPBC Act to strengthen protections for biodiversity and remove ministerial discretion and legal loopholes, in order to create a level playing field for businesses, and make environmental protection and recovery central to all decision-making processes under the Act. We note that the Go8 has signed a statement by the Business Council of Australia endorsing amendments that will weaken the Act’s protection for the environment. This statement does not reflect the world leading conservation research being carried out at our institutions. It also does not reflect the extensive evidence-based advice provided by experts based at Go8 institutions during the review and consultation processes over the past five years. We disagree with this statement, and the Go8’s endorsement of it.

Names of academics

Names of academics

Names of academics

90 academics from Group of Eight universities voice their opposition to the #GO8 signing onto a statement by the Business Council of Australia www.bca.com.au/our-insights... that endorses the Australian Government's plans to weaken national environmental laws #EPBCAct #esa2025 #environment #nature

Labor offers Greens forestry deal in exchange for support on environment laws The ABC has been told the federal government is willing to ensure native forestry complies with tougher new standards within three years if the Greens back the reforms.

#esa2025 Greens need to not do a Safeguard or Nature Repair-style flop and not cave to these absurd crumbs offerings #EPBCAct

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

#esa2025 Federal government is looking to pass #EPBCAct "reform" this week folks - keep your eyes on the Senate

With the realisation that @albomp.bsky.social would rather cuddle up with the Libs than listen to the science on reforming Australia’s environmental laws 🧶👵’s have
HIT ROCK BOTTOM!
#EPBCAct #EPBCActreform #EnvironmentalProtection #Biodiversity

Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee | 14/11/2025 YouTube video by Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal

Australia's environmental law #EPBCAct reforms are being discussed in the Senate Environment & Communications Committee today, you can watch here www.youtube.com/live/D8eyUiN...

Fossil fuel emissions still rising despite renewable energy growth: report Despite rising CO2 emissions there are hopes for exponential growth in renewable energy take-up as major emitters like China near a peak for greenhouse gas creation.

Emissions from Fossil Fuel projects are having a devastating impact on hr environment and they’re only going to get worse.

We need a Climate Trigger in the #EPBCAct to prevent extensions & new #FossilFuel projects from exacerbating an already dreadful situation

www.abc.net.au/news/science...

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ALP #EPBCAct reform fails to Protect the env & biodiversity - It's flawed from the start then deeply tripped up by neoliberalism, it could be better but not if it is trying to achieve things other than protect environment & biodiversity - it isn't, not 1 bit
www.instagram.com/reel/DQrz0Ri...

#auspol #EPBCAct

‘Serious gaps’ in Labor’s environment laws undermine attempt to fix broken system, integrity experts say Pressure mounts on federal government to rethink controversial ‘national interest’ exemption for projects

“Public confidence and trust in environmental decision making would be better served if responsibility lay with an independent body, free from political influence and less susceptible to vested interests”
#EPBCact #EndFossilFuels #Biodiversity #ClimateActionNow
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

“Large-scale deforestation & other harmful activities still supported with exemptions from the Act

The Bills do not remove exemptions that have allowed unsustainable activities to continue around Australia without EPBC Act oversight.” #auspol #environment #EPBCAct

A discussion on the #EPBCact by people who can talk about the implications beyond what it means for business?

Surely some mistake?
#theShot

“National Interest” another alternative spelling of “fossil fuel project”

Can’t for the life of me think why you’d be sceptical Greg?

Looking fwd to all and sundry interrogating Minister Watt (TF) on whether any of their recent approvals would have met the national interest threshold?
#EPBCAct

Done.

The environment is Australia’s most important asset and needs protection.

We degrade our environment, we degrade our future.
#EPBCAct

The #ALP engage in more horse trading with the #LNP in a race to the environmental cliff edge. With large sections of the bill still unclear, the bits we can see are shamefully inept.

#EPBCAct #EPA #Auspol #ClimateCrisis

Labor is adamant that climate change not be assessed by the Fed EPA and that other legislation (safeguard mechanism)will control that

This leaves me writing submissions with my hands tied. It's absurd to have no assessment of climate impacts of projects.

#epbcact #climatechange #auspol 4/x

The cutting red tape provisions will see a single environment assessment performed by the states on behalf of the states.
There will be regional plans that will allow projects within these plans quickly accepted.

#epbcact 3/x

Since everyone is talking about it,I managed to weasel my way into a briefing on @australianlabor.bsky.social, new nature laws.

There are good, okay and bad parts of it as is. 1/x

#epbcact #auspol #environment #climatechange.

The Woodside case proves what we’ve long suspected: Australia’s ‘environment protection’ law does no such thing Approval of the North West Shelf extension shows the purpose of the EPBC Act is to allow developments, not to protect and preserve

www.theguardian.com/environment/... #australia #ausenvironment #woodside #northwestshelf #epbcact #stopcoalandgas #ausecology #climateemergency

Who's regulating the regulator?

Another reason why we need National Environment Standards

#NES #EPBCAct

Good point for me to sign off. Got a report to write. Thanks for your advocacy #DrKenHenry #EPBCAct

SA marine disaster is not an early warning it’s a late warning…it’s a wake up call…#climatetrigger question regarding the #EPBCAct something that should be up for discussion due to no #CarbonTax #ETS …everything should be on the table 👍

Cranston from the Australian doesn’t ask a question regarding the #EPBCAct 🤦🏼‍♂️

We’ve had all the reviews we need…let’s just get this done #EPBCAct Here here

Reforms need to be delivered all together…need a purpose…need to resource the Environment Commission…need NES…need an independent EPA…need nature markets #EPBCAct

#EPBCAct lacks a clear purpose…lacks the power to address land creating and deforestation and to address #ClimateChange

We need national leadership we need cooperation with states…not enough levers in the #EPBCAct

“I’m upset, I’m angry at our failures…but we should be…the too hard basket is an indictment on those delaying action…good news is we have time to get this right…we need a nature rich ambition #EPBCAct

Project by project ESD is ‘nuts’
The cost of nature’s degeneration is borne by future generations… we need regulation but the #EPBCAct is not fit for purpose

Crops failing…we’ve turned nature against us…we need to change course…we need a new collective course…accept that there are constraints on the choices we make. #EPBCAct