An EPA is an Environmental Protection Agency.
An independent Federal EPA would be an expert regulator that will enforce the environment laws needed to protect the state’s most precious animals and places.
In other words, an EPA is an:
- Environmental watchdog to enforce the laws that protect our precious nature and crack down on big polluters and industries that are destroying nature.
- Agency that will undertake regulatory and implementation functions under the federal nature laws.
The EPA would be a separate entity with its own budget and leadership team, that would:
- Review and advise on National Environmental Standards to the Parliament. These Standards would ensure there is clarity on how federal environmental decisions are made – something lacking in our current federal environment laws.
- Provide transparency to decision making, by publishing details of decisions.
- Prosecute those breaking the law. Compliance and enforcement of national laws would be a much higher priority with an independent EPA.
- Report publicly on its performance and the Data Division will report on whether the system as a whole, including the EPA, is delivering on national environmental goals and objectives.
- Publish annual reports which the Minister will be required to table in Parliament.
The independence of the EPA would take the politics out of decision-making by applying the law in an objective way.