WA needs a modernised Biodiversity Conservation Act that is based on protection, restoration and enhancement, and grounded in evidence, ambition and purpose. To do this we recommend:
- conducting the mandated five year review and update of the BC Act in line with Australia’s obligations under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;
- addressing the full range of cited deficiencies in the BC Act;
- giving the BC Act primacy over competing legislation;
- increasing funding for DBCA to fulfill its monitoring, compliance and other regulatory functions;
- meaningfully involve Aboriginal people in design and implementation;
- proactively addressing climate change, clearing of native vegetation, and cumulative impacts on biodiversity;
- setting criteria for achieving Objects of the BC Act 2016, with commensurate resourcing and public reporting;
- mandating Biodiversity Audits, conducted and published on a rolling basis (see also Recommendation 25 under ‘Require Biodiversity Audits’); and
- mandatory requirements for the identification and protection of critical habitat