Much advocacy has been advanced over the last two years for an independent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in Queensland, to address failings in our current system of environmental protections.
Queensland is the only State in Australia not to have an EPA (for example, see NSW EPA, Victorian EPA). An EPA is a stand-alone body for the enforcement of environmental laws and can be classified as independent when the Government does not have powers to direct or control the organisation which is what is being sought.
In Queensland the enforcement of environmental laws is currently done by the Department of Environment and Science and is not separate from the Government-of-the-day which is also responsible for planning, development, industry and all the other roles of government.
When Victoria reviewed its EPA, they identified that key to an effective EPA is that it should place a high priority on public health and safety, addressing environmental problems and market failures whilst promoting other social objectives. As well, it should be a regulator that is proactive and acts strategically in identifying and mitigating environmental risks, always mindful of the community’s social and economic objectives and the need to minimise red tape.
An independent EPA in Queensland should also take the same approach.
The Queensland Government undertook a consultation process last year on creating an independent EPA (see here) and we are waiting for further information from the Government on the next steps.
38 environmental organisations across Queensland have submitted in support of an independent EPA at www.bit.ly/SubmissiontoQLDEPA220722
Sandy’s speech on this is available at https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/speeches/spk2022/Sandy_Bolton-Noosa-20221012-909819656890.pdf
For information and a template on how you can assist in advocating on social media, visit North QLD Conservation Council at www.nqcc.org.au/qld_epa
For further advocacy on this contact the Minister for Environment and Science at environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au and please cc: noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au