Groups including Wilderness Society, Humane Society and Total Environment Centre say NSW process is ‘skewed towards radicals in the National party’

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Conservation groups have stormed out of consultations with the NSW government over an overhaul of land-clearing laws they say have been a sham and will fast-track bushland destruction in the state.

The move could reignite one the biggest environmental battles in New South Wales in recent years.

The Baird government is in the final stages of scrapping the Native Vegetation Act, which prevents the broadscale clearing of native vegetation by demanding that farmers “improve or maintain” the environmental outcomes of their site.

It will be replaced by a new Biodiversity Conservation Act, which the government has said will put in place recommendations from a 2014 review, including:

Removing the requirement that environmental outcomes be improved on a site

Giving weight to economic and social outcomes of agricultural developments

Giving farms access to controversial “biodiversity offsets”, where conservation efforts elsewhere can make up for local environmental damage

Allowing farmers to go ahead with land-clearing operations considered “low risk” without formal approval

NSW Farmers member quits executive in dispute over land clearing Read more

The Baird government said before the 2015 election the changes would “deliver an enhanced overall environmental outcome”. The NSW Farmers Association welcomed the commitment to change the laws.

After the review, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage met with groups including, The Wilderness Society, Humane Society International, Nature Conservation Council of NSW and the Total Environment Centre. But now all those groups have walked out, saying the consultation process had “predetermined” outcomes and were skewed towards radicals in the National party. They announced the move on Friday outside NSW parliament.

“We have provided detailed analysis and constructive feedback to help develop a conservation law that addresses the increasing threats to wildlife, soils and climate, but it is now clear that the government is determined to pursue development at any cost,” the groups said in a joint statement.

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“We therefore refuse to legitimise a wind-back of protections for nature by participating in the current stakeholder consultations any further.”

Instead of continuing to work inside the process, they have combined with several other groups to create the Stand Up For Nature Alliance, which will campaign for stronger environmental protections.

Recently, similar concerns led to a prominent environmentalist voice inside the farmers’ lobby, Joshua Gilbert, to quit the group in frustration.

Jeff Angel, director of the Total Environment Centre said: “We are walking away from this process because it has become clear the government is focused on delivering a predetermined outcome for radicals in the National party.”

Michael Kennedy, Australian Director of Humane Society International, said: “There is undeniable irony in proposed ‘biodiversity’ reforms that are set to result in weakened protections for threatened wildlife and their habitats across NSW ... it has become apparent that the government is unwilling to negotiate on a range of elements with unacceptable consequences.”

Lyndon Schneiders, National Director of The Wilderness Society said the changes will set conservation back 20 years in the state. “[Premier Mike Baird] needs to stand up to radicals in his government who are driving these damaging changes,” he said.

Danica Leys, policy director of NSW Farmers said on Twitter the move was “nothing but a bizarre stunt to throw the toys out”.

Danica Leys (@danicaleys) @GilbertJoshuaM @PeterHolding @MikeySlezak exactly…“initial reports”…nothing but a bizarre stunt to throw the toys out at this juncture.

And NSW Farmers said on its official Twitter account that they are remaining in the negotiations.

NSW Farmers (@NSWFarmers) e-NGOs quit but we're in #biodiveristy reform process 4 long haul - it's about striking a balance | https://t.co/DkYsb7aZj2 | #nswpol

Guardian Australia has contacted NSW Farmers for an official response.



