Our nature laws are meant to keep us, our environment and our threatened and endangered animals safe, yet they’re failing to do so.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 was supposed to shield coastal nurseries and blue-water highways. Yet even with this legislation in place, Governments cleared massive dredging in Gladstone Harbour Queensland and permitted years of seismic blasting off Darwin. Each approval that impacts dolphins without appropriate mitigation or conditions erodes the habitat they rely on to feed, breed and communicate.
Loopholes and weak enforcement mean damage is often discovered only after dolphins are already struggling. This is why we are urging the Australian Government to introduce stronger nature laws this term. It is not okay for “business as usual” to keep silencing whistles, entangling calves and shrinking pods. Add your name and demand stronger protection before the next big project puts another dolphin community at risk.
A snapshot about Australia's nature laws
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 contains Australia’s national nature laws.
Australia’s current nature laws are outdated, barely monitored and rarely enforced. This has created loopholes for the ongoing destruction of marine life and their ocean home.
This is our opportunity to demand stronger nature laws that protect and help to restore the marine life we have left, before the damage is irreversible.
Right now, the Australian Government is rewriting Australia’s nature laws. This is the first time in over 20 years. Strong new laws are our chance to stop the destruction and help to restore marine life, seascapes and all wildlife.
What do stronger nature laws look like?
We’re urgently calling on the Australian Government to introduce stronger national laws that achieve the following:
✅ Set strong and enforceable National Environmental Standards that safeguard nature against further destruction.
✅ Properly fund habitat restoration and species recovery.
✅ Create an independent Environment Protection Australia that will monitor and enforce these laws.
✅ Close legal loopholes that favour big businesses over nature.
The reforms must include stronger laws that help to save the marine life we have left, adequate funding to recover threatened species populations, and the budget to monitor and enforce compliance.
This is our critical opportunity to demand stronger nature laws that protect marine life and their ocean home before the damage is irreversible.
Action for Dolphins is advocating for stronger nature laws as a member of The Places You Love Alliance. Collectively, we represent 1.5 million Australians who love nature and want to help save it.
