It's Pachamama mate!: Time for Australians to protect our place?

Since taking power in 2011 the NSW Coalition government has announced a review of several key pieces of environmental legislation. The list includes the Native Vegetation Act 2003; Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995; Nature Conservation Trust Act 2001 and parts of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. The outcome of this was released just before Christmas1 and it remains to be seen what impact this will have on biodiversity. The government allowed fishing to resume in marine sanctuary zones despite widespread public support for no-take areas, and strong scientific evidence showing the global importance of sanctuary zones to fish communities. They then banned fishing again and have embarked on a restructure of the way the marine estate is managed. Recently, the Natural Resource Commission recommended 'ecological thinning' take place in State Conservation Areas - and that the National Parks and Wildlife Act be amended to allow it.