Green groups have accused the Albanese government of watering down a proposal to protect threatened species and ecosystems.<\/p>\n
National environmental standards were the key plank of reforms<\/a> to Australia\u2019s nature laws, passed by the parliament<\/a> in November.<\/p>\n The government has been consulting on a draft standard for matters of national environmental significance, including endangered wildlife, world heritage areas and the great barrier reef.<\/p>\n Environmentalists have criticised the latest draft which they say removes the requirement for developments to meet specific environmental objectives.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n Changes to the draft standard, released Thursday, would mean developers would be considered to have met the objectives if they follow certain processes or \u201cprinciples\u201d in their environmental assessments \u2013 rather than directly demonstrating the required environmental outcomes can be met.<\/p>\n The Wilderness Society said the changes undermined the intent of national standards, which was to reverse the decline of plants, animals and ecosystems.<\/p>\n \u201cThe draft standard is a step backwards and will not protect wildlife from extinction or stop the destruction of forests,\u201d biodiversity policy and campaign manager, Melanie Audrey, said.<\/p>\n Audrey said the draft standard for matters of national environmental significance was \u201criddled with weak language, loopholes and fails to set clear red lines to protect nature\u201d.<\/p>\n WWF-Australia said the latest version of the standard was weaker than the first draft released last year and further removed from the clear, measurable standards proposed by Graeme Samuel.<\/p>\n The former competition watchdog chair\u2019s 2020 review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation<\/a> Act found Australia\u2019s laws had failed nature in part because they were too process-focused. The review recommended national standards that mandated measurable outcomes for the environment to turn the decline around.<\/p>\n