NT Nature Laws Now

Dear Chief Minister Lawler and Environment Minister Worden MLA,
The NT has some of Australia’s most precious and unique nature, but the weakest nature laws.
Unrelenting broadscale impacts from feral pests, weeds, too much fire and climate change have greatly diminished the Territory’s nature over many decades. Now, increasing land clearing due to massive cotton, fracking, mining and other industrial development is putting more of the Territory’s precious places and wildlife at risk.
Legal experts have described the NT’s current protections as a patchwork of antiquated laws, that are not designed to address the biggest threats to the Territory’s nature. I am writing to call for a commitment to new nature laws that adequately protect the NT’s biodiversity, intact healthy landscapes, and amazing free flowing river systems. I am seriously concerned that:
<ul>
<li>The Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction in the country that does not have specific laws to regulate land clearing. Instead, the NT has weak guidelines that are not enforceable. Land clearing is one of the leading causes of species extinctions and biodiversity loss in Australia and around the world. Land clearing is rapidly increasing in the Northern Territory.</li>
<li>I am very concerned that the NT does not have specific biodiversity conservation law – such as a Biodiversity Act. Unlike other jurisdictions, the NT has no laws with specific objectives to secure and protect wildlife populations and the health and diversity of ecosystems.</li>
<li>Due to this lack of biodiversity law, there is a lack of biodiversity policy in the NT. There are over 200 native species threatened with extinction in the NT, but there is no government threatened species policy aimed at halting their decline. There is no NT biodiversity strategy with clear goals to reduce threats and enhance natural values. The NT is the only place in Australia that does not have a regular state of the environment reporting program. This means there is a woeful absence of transparent monitoring and reporting on the health of the NT’s environment.</li>
<li>Finally, expert legal analysis has revealed that the NT has the weakest environmental community rights in the country. Territorians are not adequately afforded the right to know, the right to participate and the right to object to environmental decisions that impact their community.</li>
</ul>
This must change.
I am calling on Territory politicians to stand up for our nature. You can deliver real legal protections for the incredible natural and cultural values of the NT.
I urge you to commit to new NT Nature Laws. Make a commitment to fix the broken system and better protect what we all love about the Territory – the unique environment, culture, lifestyle and incredible wildlife.
The best nature deserves the best laws. I call for NT Nature Laws Now!
Sincerely,

I want to volunteer