The poisoning has had a significant impact on the Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands ecological community.
In response to announcement that the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has found native grasslands on Energy Minister Angus Taylor’s property were poisoned and has ordered a remediation program, Australian Conservation Foundation nature program manager Basha Stasak said:
“The Department has confirmed what most observers of this saga already suspected – that critically endangered native grasslands on a property part owned by Energy Minister Angus Taylor were poisoned to convert them to pasture.
“The poisoning has had a significant impact on the Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands ecological community.
“There was no approval granted under Australia’s national environment law for the poisoning of the grasslands. Angus Taylor’s family company has broken the law.
“The Department has ordered a remediation program to try to rehabilitate the poisoned grasslands and protect remaining areas.
“It’s good to see the Department taking action and persisting with an investigation that was the subject of such intense political pressure.
“The extreme political interference in this matter, which we can now categorically say was a breach of the law, is an alarming reminder that our environment laws need to be stronger and need the independent oversight of an authority such as a federal EPA.
“In the 20 years Australia has had a national environment law, an area of threatened species habitat larger than Tasmania has been logged, bulldozed and cleared.
“With Graeme Samuel presently reviewing the national environment legislation, it is worth noting that a majority of Australians believe our environment laws should be stronger.
“Australia needs strong environment laws to protect the clean air, filtered water, unique Australian wildlife and healthy environment we all benefit from.”
