Dear Prime Minister, Together, we affirm our support for the national protection of Australias unique environment our

r reefs, forests, wetlands, bushland, oceans and wildlife. Our national environmental law gives the Federal Government the power and responsibility to decide whether developments that could threaten nationally significant environmental assets should go ahead. We support the Federal Governments right to intervene even when projects have been approved by state governments. As a result of past Commonwealth interventions, iconic places, such as the Alpine National Park, the Great Barrier Reef and the Franklin River, have been saved from destructive development proposals that have had the support of state governments. Currently, the Federal Government is planning to hand this power over to state governments, winding back environmental protection in Australia by decades. There is no system of standards which would be effective enough to justify handing over these crucial approval powers. We urge the Commonwealth to hold on to its power to protect the places and wildlife Australians love. Sincerely,

Michael Berwick, Chair of Terrain Queensland Natural Resources Management Regional Groups Collective Professor Corey Bradshaw, Director, Ecological Modelling: The Environment Institute and School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide William Burrell AM, Director, Furzefield Pty Ltd Professor Rob Fowler, Chair, IUCN Academy of Environmental Law, Law School, University of South Australia Professor Lee Carol Godden, Director, Centre for Resources Energy and Environmental Law, University of Melbourne Piers Grove, Executive Director, The Republic Dr. Ronnie Harding, Senior Visiting Fellow, Institute of Environmental Studies, the University of New South Wales Professor Lesley Hughes, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscapes Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of NSW Professor David Lindenmayer, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO, Griffith University Dr Chris McGrath, Senior Lecturer (Environmental Regulation), School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management Professor Simon R Molesworth AO, QC, Foundation President, National Environmental Law Association of Australia Associate Professor David Paton AM, The University of Adelaide, Robert Pallin, Chairman, Paddy Pallin Group of Companies Professor HughPossingham, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions& the NERP Environmental Decisions Hub,the University of Queensland Rob Purves, Director RPG Management Professor David Shearman, Hon Secretary, Doctors for the Environment Australia Louise Tarrant, National Secretary, United Voice Peter Thomas, Director, TFG International Pty Ltd Peter Valentine, Associate Professor at James Cook University, Chair of the WH Wet Tropics Management Authority and an appointed Natural Expert Australian Heritage Council The Honourable Murray Wilcox AO QC.

Photo: Greenpeace/Darren Jew