Late last year, the Albanese government passed long-awaited reforms to Australia's national environment laws. They're far from perfect — but they did close some long overdue loopholes, meaning widespread and high-risk deforestation and land clearing will finally face federal scrutiny.

But whether these laws will actually protect nature and wildlife? That's still to be decided.
The government has just released the first draft "National Environmental Standards" for public comment — and the window to have your say is open for just 20 days.

These are the rules that will guide every major project decision that impacts nature in Australia. Done right, they'd set clear, enforceable limits on environmental harm — covering everything from mines to forest clearing to coastal developments.

But the draft? It's not strong enough.

Right now, a developer can go through the motions of following the process — and still raze a forest, push a species closer to extinction, and pay their way out of accountability. That's because the rules are written as suggestions, not requirements. "Should" where there should be "must." Process steps where there should be hard lines. And no real requirement to consider the accumulated damage of dozens of decisions on the same species, in the same landscape, over time.

The Samuel Review said Australia needed enforceable, plain-language standards. The government promised to deliver. These drafts fall short of that promise.

Join us for this live webinar to hear directly from Wilderness Society Biodiversity Policy and Campaigns Manager Melanie Audrey and legal experts from Environmental Justice Australia — breaking down what's in the draft, what's missing, and what stronger standards would actually look like for Australia's forests, rivers and wild places.

Then take action on the night.