PDC: Environment working group

This Working Group (WG) was established by the Policy Development Committee (PDC) on 1 May 2013.

Working group report
This working group was tasked with developing policy on protection of the environment and biodiversity. It is chaired by Melanie Thomas and has prepared the following policy text for consideration of party members.

Recommendation
That the following text be adopted to introduce additional transparency and scientific merit into ecological management and animal welfare regimes in Australia.

Preamble
Environmental policy faces a single crucial test: it must keep pace with what science has come to tell us about the natural world. Environmental neglect amounts to a repudiation of science and creates many concealed costs. Ecological deterioration in Australia is undeniably significant: issues with management and feral aminals is leading to significant loss, even from protected areas such as Kakadu.[1] Cases such as that of the Murray Darling system demonstrate the folly of trying to split ecosystem management across state borders: scientific reviews demonstrate interconnections and complexity which demand a comprehensive national approach[2].Pirate Party supports adoption of prudent and holistic measures to prevent needless ecological destruction.

We support the development of a comprehensive biodiversity matrix, to fully classify land and ocean ecosystems and species distribution. The creation of such a database carries initial costs, but will provide long-term savings by allowing for more rapid and comprehensive environmental approvals. It will also provide the public with ready access to in-depth information about the ecological health of our continent, and underpin a transparent, scientifically-informed approach to land management.

While scientific land use management is a worthy long-term goal, we believe certain practices warrant action in a more urgent timeframe. Coal seam gas extraction is being undertaken from a position of profound ignorance regarding its impacts on rivers and groundwater, food security, and biodiversity. With increasing evidence emerging of fugitive emissions leaks and other unforeseen impacts,[3] we believe the precautionary principle should be applied, and a moratorium enacted, pending a strong scientific case supporting the safety of this practice.

The Pirate Party is opposed to animal abuse and believes our laws should reflect scientific research which demonstrates the capacity of animals to feel emotion and pain[4]. Accordingly we support existing efforts to create an independent statutory authority to improve animal welfare outcomes and curb abuses. We also believe animal welfare can be improved through increased transparency applying to animal products. The Pirate Party supports ongoing efforts to promote chilled meat exports as an alternative to the live cattle trade: live exports are characterized by months-long voyages, unsanitary conditions and total absence of any freedom of movement, with a significant follow-up risk of abuse in destination countries.[5]

Ultimately, decisions relating to environmental management and animal rights adjudicate a clash of rights. Land management balances the needs of current and future generations, weighing up immediate revenue with potential long-term loss of economic and environmental utility. A clash also exists between development and animal rights. The Pirate Party believes in the adoption of an open and scientific framework to help find answers to these difficult questions.

Policy text
Create a scientifically informed, transparent platform for resource management.
 * An independent statutory Land Management Authority (LMA) will be formed, to be staffed by scientists with relevant qualifications, and with resources and responsibility to:
 * Develop and update a detailed biodiversity matrix for all areas of Australia, showing established ecosystems.
 * The LMA may recommend moratoriums on development in land and ocean areas where data provides strong evidence of high biodiversity value.
 * Provide a single national environmental approvals process to cover land use changes and replace the current mix of state and federal processes.
 * Provide a coordinated structure to manage world heritage and protected areas.
 * Replace the current mix of state and federal oversight of world heritage areas with a single management structure, featuring unified marketing and branding.
 * Options will be explored, and a road-map prepared to allow incorporation of state national parks into the structure.
 * World heritage ocean areas will be included, and use of such areas will be reviewed by the LMA.
 * Consult with experts and NGOs to enhance management of feral animals.
 * Options may include the creation of fenced-off “arks” where endangered native species can be re-introduced.
 * Recommend additional areas to be classified as national parks and facilitate approval processes to ensure a representative sample of at least 80% of regional ecosystems are protected in each bioregion.
 * Incorporate and support the operation and functions of the National Reserve System.
 * Reform the National Parks Act to ensure its effectiveness.
 * Reverse the burden of proof currently applying to the 'Assessment and Approvals' sections in areas where the biodiversity matrix records high biodiversity value.
 * Enable all species reported as being at risk of extinction through any credible scientific source (including the biodiversity matrix) to be listed as “notifiable”.
 * Utilise the biodiversity matrix to ensure that changes to the use of national parks are appropriate for the ecosystem at large.
 * Institute a moratorium on extraction of coal seam gas through hydraulic fracturing.
 * The moratorium will apply to all new mines.
 * The LMA will periodically review available scientific evidence and present recommendations to the Government on the scientific case for lifting or modifying the moratorium.
 * Extraction and exploration in or around water catchment areas will be permanently banned.
 * Landowners will be granted a right to refuse exploitation of coal seam gas on land they own.

'''Support improvements in animal welfare. '''
 * Encourage development of more humane animal handling practices.
 * Support existing proposals to form an Independent Office of Animal Welfare (IOAW).
 * The IOAW authority will be dedicated to animal welfare issues, with enforcement powers and a mandate to adopt a scientific approach.
 * The authority will have statutory independence to prevent political and commercial interference.
 * Enact a package of reforms to transform and improve the live exports industry.
 * Provide assistance for live animal exporters to shift to chilled/frozen meat exports.
 * Require transparency and minimal standards for animal handling among destination countries as a condition of sale.
 * Australian trade officials to inspect animals upon arrival and in abattoir facilities in destination countries.
 * Reduce numbers of animals carried in ships and holding pens, and ensure sufficient provision of food and water.
 * Ensure open and transparent systems for euthanising animals, with a requirement to use stun equipment.
 * Improve transparency in animal product industries.
 * Ensure transparent labeling of all animal based products.
 * Use of the "free range" label to be permitted only when:
 * Independent audits of sanitary and welfare conditions are allowed.
 * For birds, indoor stocking density is at a maximum level of 28 kg of live birds per sq metre (35 kg for turkeys), with access to an outdoor range with maximum of 1500 birds per hectare, no use of growth promoting hormones, no mutilations (beak trimming, toe trimming, de-snooding).
 * For pigs and cattle, free access to soil and pasture and no use of farrowing crates, sow stalls, feedlots, tail docking, teeth clipping and nose ringing.
 * Provide whistleblower protection for persons who expose animal abuse at factory farms and other facilities.