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Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)

Police have charged one person under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 23 COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charge:

  • About 2pm (Sunday 26 April 2020), a 26-year-old woman was at Nepean Hospital seeking treatment, when she allegedly became aggressive towards staff. After threatening them, the woman then allegedly spat on two nurses, two women aged 26 and 34, and a 49-year-old female doctor. Officers from Nepean Police Area Command were notified and attended the hospital. The 26-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station, where she was charged with not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID19, and common assault. The Penrith woman was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today (Monday 27 April 2020).

Yesterday’s PINs include:

  • About 1am, three men – aged 20, 21 and 23 – attended a fast food restaurant on the Princes Highway, Nowra, and sat at an indoor table together. Staff spoke to the trio and informed them the restaurant was only open for take-away meals. They refused and continued to eat their meals before leaving. Officers from South Coast Police District were patrolling nearby and after speaking to staff, police stopped their vehicle. The 20-year-old driver told police he had driven from Bexley to Sussex Inlet to buy a boat with two friends. They were each issued a $1000 PIN for non-essential travel.
  • About 1am, officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command were patrolling when they observed two males drinking alcohol on Penrith Avenue, Wheeler Heights. When approaching, it’s alleged they ran from police. Following a short foot pursuit, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were arrested. Officers had previously spoken to the pair two hours earlier about the current Ministerial Directions and were issued with $1000 PINs. The youth was also issued with an infringement for trespass.
  • Just after 2am, officers from Leichhardt Police Area Command were patrolling when they stopped and spoke to two men – aged 22 and 44 – on Glebe Point Road, Glebe. It’s alleged the men could not provide a reason for not being home. Checks revealed the younger man has previously been issued two warnings and was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN. The older man was issued a warning.
  • About 4pm, officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District were called to a unit on West High Street, Coffs Harbour, following reports of a gathering. Police spoke to a 38-year-old man who did not reside at the location. Checks revealed he was previously issued a warning on Thursday 2 April at the same location and was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.
  • About 9am, officers from Riverina Police District were called to Bentley Place, Wagga Wagga, following reports a woman – armed with a tomahawk – was outside a home unit threatening the occupants – a 72-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman. Police attended and arrested a 33-year-old woman. She was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station and charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm (personal), destroy or damage property, and armed with intent to commit indictable offence. The woman was also issued a $1000 PIN for failing to comply with Ministerial Directions. She was refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Monday 27 April 2020).
  • About 11.20pm, police attended a unit on Park Avenue, Kingswood, and spoke to a 36-year-old Werrington man and a 35-year-old St Marys woman. The pair allegedly told police they were at the location to visit two friends, who were the occupants of the unit. Checks revealed the man and woman had previously been issued warnings and the woman was issued a PIN last Wednesday (22 April 2020). They were subsequently issued $1000 PINs.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Greens Respond to COVID-19 App

The Government’s shameful disregard for privacy continues with the release of its COVID-19 app.
“If the Government wants people to use this app, they need to put protections in law beforehand,” Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said.
“People have very legitimate concerns about how the data will be used and where it will be stored.”
“The reported storage of the data by a US company raises real concerns. When it comes to privacy, if there’s one person I trust less than Peter Dutton, it’s Donald Trump.”
“We all want the lockdown to end, but something like this needs to be done properly because the stakes are too high. Once it’s out, the genie can’t be put back in the bottle.”
Greens Digital Rights spokesperson Nick McKim said the Government had a long and terrible track record of undermining privacy and IT blunders.
“This government has repeatedly failed to ensure the security of data it has collected, and has made an art form of deliberately releasing people’s sensitive personal information to media outlets for political gain,” Senator McKim said.
“They should immediately release the source code and relevant legislation before rolling this out to the public.”
“Peter Dutton has been dreaming of a surveillance state in Australia for years, and this app, without protections, takes him one step closer.”

COVIDSafe: New App to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus

The Australian Government today launches the new voluntary coronavirus app, COVIDSafe.
The app is an important public health initiative that will help keep you, your family, and your community safe from further spread of coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure.
“Australians are doing an extraordinary job to flatten the curve and contain the spread of the coronavirus, but we cannot be complacent,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“The Chief Medical Officer’s advice is we need the COVIDSafe app as part of the plan to save lives and save livelihoods. The more people who download this important public health app, the safer they and their family will be, the safer their community will be and the sooner we can safely lift restrictions and get back to business and do the things we love.”
The health initiative uses technology to automate and improve what state and territory health officials already do manually. COVIDSafe will speed up the process of identifying people who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus, quickly stopping further spread of the virus in the community.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt thanked Australians for their actions during the pandemic, and said the app is part of the three key requirements for easing restrictions: Test, Trace and Respond.
“We thank Australians for their help in adhering to the difficult but life-saving social distancing measures,” Minister Hunt said.
“We are now calling on all Australians to download the COVIDSafe app to help protect you, your family and your community from further spread of COVID-19. This will be necessary if we are to start easing some of the difficult social distancing restrictions we have had to put in place” Minister Hunt said.
“It will be one of the critical tools we will use to help protect the health of the community by quickly alerting people who may be at risk of having contact with COVID-19. If you’d been exposed, you’d want to know, wouldn’t you?”
The app has received strong support from states and territories and the health sector, which recognise it is a valuable tool that will enhance the ability to respond rapidly to local outbreaks, and the confidence to know the virus is not silently spreading throughout communities.
A new determination issued by the Minister for Health under the Biosecurity Act will ensure information provided voluntarily through the App will only be accessible for use by authorised state and territory health officials. Any other access or use will be a criminal offence.
Minister for Government Services, Stuart Robert described the App as being developed with one purpose: to stop the spread of coronavirus.
“Once installed and running, the COVIDSafe app uses Bluetooth to look for other phones that also have the app installed,” Minister Robert said.
“To be effective, users should have the app running in the background when they are coming into contact with others. Your phone does not need to be unlocked for the app to work.”
“It then securely makes a ‘digital handshake’, which notes the date and time, distance and duration of the contact. All information collected by the app is securely encrypted and stored in the app on the user’s phone. No one, not even the user, can access it.”
“Unless and until a person is diagnosed with COVID-19, no contact information collected in the app is disclosed or able to be accessed. Then, once the person agrees and uploads the data, only the relevant state or territory public health officials will have access to information. The only information they are allowed to access is that of close contacts – when a person has come within approximately 1.5 metres of another app user for 15 minutes or more – in their jurisdiction,” Minister Robert said.
Welcoming the announcement, Australian Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy said COVIDSafe is set to be a major tool in streamlining the process of identifying contacts after a person tests positive for coronavirus.
“Finding out quickly means you can quarantine yourself or be treated much faster, protecting your family and friends from possible infection, and slowing the spread of the virus,” Professor Murphy said.
“Without this technology, health officials have to rely on people being able to remember who they have been around, and being able to provide contact details for those people.”
“It is important to note that only state and territory health officials will be able to use the information.”
“COVIDSafe only keeps contact information for 21 days. This covers the maximum incubation period for the virus and the time it takes for someone to be tested for COVID-19,” Professor Murphy said.
“Once the coronavirus pandemic is over, and Australia no longer needs the app, the app and the information on it will be deleted permanently. No virus, no app,” Minister Hunt said.
Coronavirus is a serious and contagious respiratory disease with symptoms including fever, a dry cough, a sore throat and shortness of breath that has infected more than 2.8 million people globally and led to 200,000 deaths. In Australia around 6,700 people have contracted coronavirus and sadly 82 people have died.
The App can be downloaded from the App stores.

$395M ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE TO SAFEGUARD COUNCIL JOBS, SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

The NSW Government today announced a $395 million economic stimulus package to safeguard council jobs, and local services and infrastructure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the COVID-19 crisis has hit councils hard financially and the NSW Government is determined to limit the impacts to keep more people in jobs and allow councils to deliver for communities across the State.
“Our State’s 128 local councils are a critical part of the NSW economy, especially in many regional and rural towns where they are sometimes the largest employer,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This about keeping people in jobs which will allow councils to continue to provide essential services in their communities throughout the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and bounce back faster once we come out the other side.”
The NSW Government’s local government economic stimulus package includes a $250 million increase in low-cost loans to eligible councils through the State’s borrowing facility provided by TCorp to kick-start community infrastructure projects.
This increase brings this low-cost loan facility up to $1.35 billion for the benefit of councils and their communities.
TCorp will also be offering principal and interest payments deferrals on existing council loans upon request for the next six months.
Other measures will include:

  • Up to $112.5 million from the NSW Government’s ‘Jobs for NSW’ Fund to support a Council Job Retention Allowance of $1,500 per fortnight per employee to limit job losses in the NSW local government sector. The allowance will be paid for up to three months to qualifying staff working in the NSW local government sector.
  • $32.8 million to assist councils meet the cost of the FY2020/21 increase in the Emergency Services Levy.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said this comprehensive package safeguards valuable council jobs and ensures staff with a wide range of skills and experience can continue to serve their communities.
“This funding injection enables councils to redirect funds to critical core services and deliver much-needed financial support for local communities,” Mrs Hancock said.
“Importantly, this package builds on the NSW Government’s $82 million to support 260 council-run childcare centres and $25 million for local councils to rebuild and refurbish local showgrounds, bringing our total support for the local government sector to over half a billion dollars.”

GOVERNMENT ACTS TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL TENANTS AND LANDLORDS, INCLUDING $440 MILLION IN TAX RELIEF

New regulations published in NSW will give immediate effect to the NSW Government’s COVID-19 rental relief measures, reflecting the National Cabinet’s Code of Conduct agreed to by all states.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the changes will support and guide tenants and landlords in negotiating agreements.
They are part of the NSW Government’s package of support for tenants and landlords which includes up to $440 million in land tax relief announced on April 13, to be split approximately 50-50 between the commercial and residential sectors.
“This is about adopting a national framework in NSW so agreements can be reached between parties and more businesses stay in business and people stay in jobs,” Mr Tudehope said.
“These new regulations require landlords to negotiate rent relief agreements with tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 by applying the leasing principles in the National Code of Conduct.”
Mr Tudehope said the regulations – which also apply to commercial leases – would provide a clear way forward for tenants and landlords to reach agreements.
“We’re taking action to provide certainty for landlords and tenants and enshrine into law the measures needed right now as agreed by the National Cabinet. If there is more the Government needs to do, we will address those gaps where possible.”
To facilitate these changes, and deliver increased mediation and advisory services to commercial parties, the NSW Small Business Commission will be bolstered with extra staff and an injection of $10 million from the $1 billion Working for NSW Fund.
Regulations relating to commercial leases were expedited under amendments passed by the NSW Parliament in March, which allow the Government to make laws that are reasonable to protect the health, safety and welfare of lessees or tenants during COVID-19.
New regulations to assist landlords and tenants in the residential sector were also published last week by the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation.
Mr Perrottet said land tax relief would be available within weeks, with landlords also able to access a further land tax deferral for any outstanding amounts for a three-month period if they’ve claimed the land tax concession.
“Eligible landlords will be able to apply for a land tax concession of up to 25 per cent of their 2020 land tax liability on relevant properties so long as they pass on the full savings in the form of a rent reduction to their tenants,” Mr Perrottet said.
The commercial lease policy will apply to business tenants with a turnover of less than $50 million that experience a 30 per cent (or more) reduction in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If circumstances have not significantly changed, tenants still need to fulfil the terms of their agreements.
For residential tenancies, households must show they have suffered a loss of income equal to or greater than 25 per cent due to COVID-19 and are struggling to make rental payments.
The National Cabinet Mandatory Code Of Conduct – SME Leasing Principles During COVID-19 was released by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday, 7 April.
It is expected eligible landlords will be able to apply for land tax rebates from Service NSW from Monday, 4 May 2020.
More information is available via Service NSW, Visit: www.service.nsw.gov.au

Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)

Police have charged four people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 28 COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:

  • A woman has been charged after allegedly assaulting and spitting on two security officers at a hospital in Darlinghurst yesterday. About 3.50pm(Saturday 25 April 2020), a 28-year-old woman was at St Vincent’s Hospital seeking treatment and allegedly became frustrated with waiting. As the woman tried to leave, she allegedly assaulted a 49-year-old male security guard before spitting in the face of a second security officer, a 48-year-old man. Officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command were notified and attended the hospital. The woman was arrested and taken to Kings Cross Police Station, where she was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19. The Surry Hills woman was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 30 June 2020.
  • About 4:30pm, officers from Sydney City PAC were called to World Square to assist paramedics, when a 23-year-old woman became aggressive and allegedly spat on one of the officers. She was treated at St Vincent’s Hospital before being released and taken to Day Street Police Station. The woman was charged with assault police, and not comply noticed direction re spitting/cough – COVID-19. She has been refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Sunday 26 April 2020).
  • Despite two previous warnings by police and three PINs, a man has been charged for failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. About 11.10pm, officers attached to Oxley Police District stopped a vehicle on Grace Street, Narrabri for the purposes of a roadside breath test. The driver, a 24-year-old man, returned a negative result but was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home. Following inquiries, he was placed under arrest and taken to Narrabri Police Station where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was refused bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court today.
  • About 12.30am (Sunday 26 April 2020), police received reports of a group consuming alcohol and playing loud music at a park on Davidson Street, Warilla. Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District attended the location and spoke to a 20-year-old man who was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for being away from his residence. Following inquiries, police confirmed he had recently been charged for failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, and prior to that had received a PIN for the same offence. He was charged with not comply with noticed direction section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 and is due to appear at Port Kembla Local Court Wednesday 24 June 2020. Two others in attendance were issued with warnings and directed to return home.

Yesterday’s PINs include:

  • A man has received his second PIN in two days after repeatedly flouting ministerial directions to stay home. About 2.45am, officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District stopped a group of three males on Warrie Street, Gilgandra. None of them were able to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home and while two were given formal warnings, checks revealed the third, aged 18, received a warning earlier in the week and received a PIN the day prior. He was issued a $1000 PIN and the group were directed to return to their homes.
  • About 9.30am, officers from Tweed/Byron Police District were patrolling Devine’s Lookout at Ocean Shores when they spoke with a 24-year-old man who was sitting in his vehicle. Police established the man had previously been warned for breaching the Public Health Act he was stopped at Murwillumbah on Tuesday (21 April) and was issued with a PIN after he was stopped at Ocean Shores about 11.35pm the same day. He has now been issued with a second $1000 PIN.
  • About 2.30pm, officers from Sydney City PAC spoke with a man who was walking along Barlow Street in Haymarket. Police allege the Newcastle man said he was visiting a friend in Sydney; however, he had previously been warned for breaching the Public Health Act after he was stopped in Sydney CBD on 16 April 2020. This time he was issued with a $1000 PIN and directed to return home to Newcastle.
  • About 2.55pm, officers attached to Sutherland Police Area Command stopped a Holden Utility on Farnell Avenue, Bundeena, after it was allegedly seen driving on the incorrect side of the road. The driver, a 45-year-old man from Drummoyne, and his passenger, a 42-year-old woman from Five Dock, told police they planned to attend a nearby beach. This was deemed by officers not to be essential travel and the pair were issued with $1000 PINS. The driver was also infringed for crossing unbroken lines.
  • A man has been issued with a PIN after being spoken to by police for a third time in relation to his obligations under the Public Health Act. About 5pm, officers from Police Transport Command approached a 66-year-old man found sitting in a public area near Strathfield Train Station. He was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home. Following inquiries, police confirmed that the man had received two previous warnings for failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and issued him with a $1000 PIN.
  • About 10.40pm, officers from Surry Hills PAC stopped a 36-year-old man riding a bicycle on Campbell Street, Surry Hills, without a helmet. Police allege the man said he was going to a friend’s house; however, checks revealed the same man had been given a warning the previous day (Friday 24 April 2020), for breaching the Public Health Act. He was issued a $1000 PIN for breaching COVID restrictions and was infringed for not wearing an approved bicycle helmet.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Man charged after ferry worker spat on – Circular Quay

A man will appear in court today, charged after allegedly spitting on a ferry worker at Circular Quay earlier this week.
About 12.50pm on Tuesday (22 April 2020), an 18-year-old female NSW ferries employee was walking along the Circular Quay ferry terminal when a man approached and allegedly spat at her, with saliva hitting her chest and neck.
The man continued walking and entered Circular Quay Railway Station.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, a 45-year-old man was arrested at Bass Hill Police Station about 1.30pm yesterday (Friday 24 April 2020).
He was charged with common assault and refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 25 April 2020).

Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)

Police have charged three people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 23 COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:

  • Just after 2pm (Friday 24 April 2020), a 35-year-old man was assaulted outside a takeaway restaurant on Harris Street, Pyrmont. Officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command attended and as they approached a man on nearby Fig Street, he ran off. Following a short foot pursuit, a 26-year-old man was arrested. He was taken to Day Street Police Station where it was established he had received a warning for breaching COVID-19 restrictions on Wednesday 15 April 2020. He was charged with common assault and not comply with noticed direction section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 25 April 2020).
  • About 4.45pm, officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command were conducting patrols in Haymarket when they saw a man approach a black Mazda 3 on Thomas Street, and following a short interaction walk away. Police stopped the vehicle as it attempted to leave and spoke to the driver, a 36-year-old man. Following inquires, officers searched the vehicle, allegedly seizing cocaine and cash. The driver was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station. He was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, recklessly deal with proceeds of crime and not comply with noticed direction section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 25 April 2020).
  • About 6pm, officers attached to Blacktown Police Area Command were patrolling Blacktown CBD when they stopped to speak to a man on Alpha Street. The man told officers he was going to “my mate’s party”, which is not considered a reasonable excuse for not being home and as such not compliant with orders under the Public Health Act. The 23-year-old had previously breached COVID-19 restrictions on five occasions, three of which he received PINs for. He was arrested and taken to Blacktown Police Station where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 25 April 2020).

Yesterday’s PINs include:

  • About 4.30am, officers attached to Wollongong Police District spoke with a 25-year-old man at Wollongong Train Station, who was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for being away from home. He was given a warning for not complying with COVID-19 restrictions and directed to return home. About 30 minutes later, police found the man walking in the opposite direction to his home and issued him a $1000 PIN.
  • About 10.50am, officers attached to Liverpool Police Area Command approached a parked car on Maxwells Avenue, Ashcroft. Police spoke with the three occupants, who were unable to provide a reason for being away from home, including a 49-year-old man who had received a warning for breaching ministerial directions the previous day (Thursday 23 April 2020). He was issued a $1000 PIN, and the group were all directed to return to their homes.
  • Police have issued a PIN and given 10 formal warnings for breaching ministerial directions after responding to reports of a mass gathering overnight. About 9pm, officers attached to Riverina Police District attended a property on Boundary Street, Junee and located 15 people consuming alcohol together. Four people were identified as living at the address, while the rest were unable to provide a reason for not being at their own homes. Following inquiries, a 22-year-old man was found to have received a warning on Saturday 4 April 2020 and was issued with a $1000 fine. The rest received warnings, and all were directed to return to their registered addresses.
  • A man has been fined after ignoring self-quarantine obligations given to him by his doctor as he awaited COVID-19 test results. Officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District attended a home on Fraser Road, Long Jetty on Thursday (23 April 2020), and spoke to 62-year-old man in relation to his requirements to isolate until medically cleared. Following inquiries, police ascertained that the man had visited a supermarket yesterday and he was issued with an infringement notice for not complying with ministerial directions.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Greens welcome Jay Weatherill's calls for a rethink on childcare

The Greens have today welcomed a call from former Labor Premier, Jay Weatherill, for a rethink of how childcare is run, which aligns with Greens calls for free childcare run on a not-for-profit basis.
While saying that his ideas required more discussion, and while not backing his call for the Commonwealth to vacate the field and hand childcare over to the states, Greens Leader Adam Bandt and Greens education spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi said that it was time to start treating childcare as an essential public service.
“I’m glad that a Labor luminary is now joining the Green New Deal push for free childcare run on a not-for-profit basis,” said Greens Leader Adam Bandt.
“On my first day as Greens Leader I said that free childcare, run like schools on a not-for-profit basis, was core to a Green New Deal.
“We need to kickstart a national discussion about how we can give our kids the best start in life. Jay Weatherill’s idea is a good one and worthy of consideration.”
Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:
“Every child should have free learning and care, and every educator should have job security through the COVID-19 crisis.
“There’s no place for profit in education. Early learning and care is an essential public service. It must be funded and operated accordingly.
“The COVID-19 crisis has exposed some of the serious structural problems with childcare in Australia. Early childhood education and care needs a big rethink.”

Govt declares war with environment with plans to scrap protection laws

The Morrison Government has declared war with the environment with its announcement it plans to cut ‘green tape’ even before the 10-year review of environmental laws is completed, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Using the cover of COVID19 as an excuse to scrap environmental protections is an act of bastardry, and everyday Australians will be appalled.
“This anti-environment government has always had cuts to environmental protections in favour of its big business mates on its agenda.
“They seem to think Australians are distracted enough by the COVID-19 pandemic they won’t notice this latest attack. But I’ve got news for the Environment Minister, Australians care about the environment now more than ever and won’t take this lying down.
“Trying to cut environmental protections to give big business, who donate to major political parties, easy access to cut down, dig up and trample the environment in the name of economic stimulus after a global pandemic is shameful.
“We need stronger environmental laws, not weaker ones. The EPBC Act is already failing in its purpose of protection conservation and biodiversity with flora and fauna continuing to become threatened species and even going extinct.
“Fast-tracking applications will do even more damage. As it is, only about 2 per cent of applications under the EPBC Act get knocked back.
“The Greens will fight this very hard, we’ve seen enough devastation with bushfires, logging of native forests and polluting mines, we won’t allow the environment to be trashed even further.”