Our current Federal Government came to power partly on a platform of Nature Repair.
Putting aside the implied nature of the title, the idea was to re-double our efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity and broader environmental outcomes – a noble and much-needed priority.
In addition to the obvious benefits, healthy ecosystems mean stronger food productivity and production outcomes, which also has the added benefit of aligning with development goals around zero hunger.
What an opportunity it was, the aim of transforming our policy settings around environment and landscapes, and a chance to work with all parties – including industry and communities – to design that ideal reform package.
All sides of the debate agree that the current settings need fundamental reform – which is a great place to start.
Yet, the current Federal Government has failed to act. The result according to experts such as Garry Bates, an environmental lawyer and former Tasmanian Greens MP is: ‘It is easier to get a permit to destroy nature rather than repair it”.
In an article by ABC’s national science and environment reporter Michael Slezak on 31 December 2024 the absurdity and tragedy of this dilemma was laid bare.
Justine Bell-James, an associate professor of law at the University of Queensland said in the same article that from a regulatory point of view, destroying nature was less complicated than restoring it.
Australia in 2023 signed up to an international agreement, The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It binds us to ‘restore 30 per cent of all degraded land, rivers and marine areas by 2030’.
Yet we have no fundamental reform policy to support it. Not even a baseline agreement about what should accurately determine ‘degraded’ areas.
It will be a critical conversation heading into the 2025 Federal election.
The facts are that enhanced environmental outcomes and strengthened food security outcomes go hand in hand.
Ensuring that message is communicated clearly to every Australian voter ahead of the election is a challenge for our industry – and one we must dedicate everything we can to delivering.
