New IPA Video Outlines Why Environmental Lawfare Must End

Free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs has today released a new video outlining why green lawfare by activist groups must end. The best way to do this is by repealing Section 487 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“The use of Section 487 encourages mines to be set up overseas where coal is lower quality. It damages the economy by delaying job-creating projects. And it worsens global poverty by reducing access to cheap and reliable energy,” said Daniel Wild, research fellow with the free market think tank Institute of Public Affairs.

“Burdensome red tape on job creating projects has a real impact. Since the year 2000, businesses in Australia have spent more than 7,500 days – 20 cumulative years – in court, at a cost of $1.2 billion.”

“The Federal Government must double down on delays caused by anti-job activists. The best way to do this is by repealing Section 487 of the EPBC Act, which has allowed the green activists to wreak havoc on regional projects through our legal system.”

Release of the video comes just after it was revealed that a delegation of Australians has travelled to India in a bid to convince the Indian-based company Adani to abandon its Carmichael coal mine based in central Queensland. A letter signed by 90 people outlining their objections will also be delivered to Adani (“Delegation to confront Gautam Adani over Galilee coal mine“, The Age, 16 March, 2017).

“Coal is thriving around the world. 1500 coal mines exist today. And this number is growing every month. Either they will exist in Australia, or they will exist somewhere else. There is no point in pricing ourselves out of the market,” said Mr Wild.

The new IPA video on Section 487 can be viewed here.

A copy of the IPA report: Section 487 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act: How activists use red tape to stop development and jobs, is available here.

Download the media release here