The State of the Environment report released today provides a crucial insight into Australia’s environment to help guide future investment and reform to national environmental law.
Today’s National Press Club address by the Minister for the Environment and Water outlined the government’s intention to progress reforms to national environmental law aimed at improving outcomes, providing certainty for business and enhancing community trust in environmental protection. The reforms will be play a key part of the broader government response to the findings of the State of the Environment Report.
Australia’s minerals sector is committed to the protection and restoration of our unique environment and national heritage values.
A focus on clear, effective and outcomes based regulation outlined by the Minister will provide certainty for businesses, the community and decision makers achieving the high national environmental and heritage standards Australians expect.
Timely approvals, national coordination and clearer guidelines will help Australia’s minerals industry create more jobs, boost investment and contribute to improved national biodiversity and heritage outcomes.
The Australian industry is a global leader in responsible production, providing the essential elements necessary for modern life, supporting the nation’s economy and the energy transition.
While the minerals industry is a relatively small land user – occupying less than 0.2 per cent of the Australian land mass – it takes seriously its commitment to land and water stewardship.
As a temporary land use, the industry is committed to managing, mitigating and offsetting potential significant impacts and contributing to broader biodiversity outcomes. Australian companies plan for and rehabilitate land across the mine life – from exploration to closure.
In addition to strict regulatory requirements, the industry undertakes a range of voluntary conservation activities, establishing significant conservation areas and partnering with local communities and First Nations people to support enduring environmental outcomes.
The programs supported by the sector extend well beyond the mine to surrounding regions and in some cases across the country.
The minerals industry is at the forefront of innovation – investing heavily in environmental data and conservation science, working in partnership with leading institutions. Australian leading practice is exported globally. These programs will form part of the industry’s contribution to the government’s environmental policy agenda.
The Towards Sustainable Mining sustainability accountability system – under adoption by the MCA and recognised in the State of the Environment report – will support continual improvement and provide unprecedented transparency around industry’s environmental and social performance governance.
The industry looks forward to ongoing engagement with Government and other stakeholders as the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act are considered and reforms to national environmental law are progressed.
