Federal government accused of watering down proposal to protect Australia’s threatened species and ecosystems

Wilderness Society says changes undermined intent of national standards intended to reverse decline of plants, animals and ecosystems Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Green groups have accused the Albanese government of watering down a proposal to protect threatened species and ecosystems. National environmental standards were the key plank of reforms to Australia’s nature laws, passed by the parliament in November. The government has been consulting on a draft standard for matters of national environmental significance, including endangered wildlife, world heritage areas and the great barrier reef. Environmentalists have criticised the latest draft which they say removes the requirement for developments to meet specific environmental objectives. Changes to the draft standard, released Thursday, would mean developers would be considered to have met the objectives if they follow certain processes or “principles” in their environmental assessments – rather than directly demonstrating the required environmental outcomes can be met. The Wilderness Society said the changes undermined the intent of national standards, which was to reverse the decline of