The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment addressed the Environmental Defence Society Annual Conference identifying that concurrent resource management and local government reforms risk creating “an expensive mess” if catchments are fragmented.

Following discussions last week on the fringes of the EDS Conference, the Minister of Conservation has agreed to substantial changes to the Conservation Amendment Bill.

The Environmental Defence Society says the decision to delay the Fisheries Amendment Bill until after the general election should mark the end for legislation that would weaken environmental protections and public accountability.