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 reflect 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 land management and feral animals are leading to significant biodiversity loss, even from protected areas such as Kakadu. 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. The Pirate Party supports the adoption of prudent and holistic measures to curb ecological destruction.

We support the development of a comprehensive biodiversity matrix, to properly 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, 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. Accordingly we support existing efforts to create an independent statutory authority to improve animal welfare outcomes and curb abuses. Animal welfare can also be improved through increased transparency applying to animal products. The Pirate Party additionally 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.

Ultimately, decisions relating to environmental management and animal rights adjudicate a clash of rights. Animal rights may clash with profits and development, while land management balances the needs of current and future generations. The Pirate Party believes in the adoption of an open and scientific framework to help inform our answers to these difficult questions.

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.
 * Accommodate regional environmental factors by creating clear channels for local landholder and community input.
 * The LMA will devolve autonomy to regional committees and expert bodies in matters of purely local impact.
 * Compliance burdens for landholders will be reduced by replacing overlapping state and federal compliance practices.
 * Bring world heritage areas under a single management structure, replacing the current mix of state and federal oversight and enabling unified marketing and branding.
 * Prepare a road-map for eventual incorporation of state national parks and other protected areas into the structure.
 * 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.
 * Target a national park threshold covering 15% of land in Australia.
 * World heritage ocean areas will be included, with use of such areas to 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.
 * Incorporate and support the operation and functions of the National Reserve System.

Reform existing land management laws

 * 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.

Drive improvements in animal welfare

 * 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.
 * Codify a legal requirement for all abattoirs to stun animals prior to slaughter.
 * Ban the use of sow stalls.
 * Enact a package of reforms to transform and improve the live exports industry.
 * Provide assistance for willing 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 and clear 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 unrestricted 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, unrestricted 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.