When oBikes were fished out of the Yarra River, the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) threatened the controversial share bike scheme with fines of more than $3000. When a Coolaroo company washed chemicals into a stormwater drain, it got a fine of $7929. And when someone gets caught flicking a cigarette butt out the window this summer, they can expect to cough up $317.

So when Victorian power stations dump 15,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide pollution into the sky, contributing to climate change, what's the penalty?

An oBike left on Spencer Street in June. Credit:Mark Fuller

Zero. The EPA lets them get away with it scot free. When it comes to the biggest environmental challenge we've ever faced – climate change – our environmental watchdog is snoozing on the job.

This should have changed when the Andrews government introduced a $162 million reform package designed to bring the EPA into the 21st century. The reforms include strengthening the Environment Protection Act to put the onus on polluters to prevent harm, giving the EPA greater powers to prosecute with increased penalties, and creating a new Chief Environmental Scientist position. So far, so good.