While I respect the…

While I respect the initiative to increase economic outputs in these unstable times, I am deeply concerned that the environment is being sidelined by this government. Protections for wildlife and natural spaces is critical for our National Heritage, and I feel that paving over that heritage is the exact OPPOSITE of what we should be doing in this time of national unity. Industrial projects are extremely Important, however it is also extremely important that we do our due diligence in preserving our natural heritage for future generations. As a young voter, one of my main hang ups with a lot of politicians is their weakness in environmental policy issues. If you want to expand your voter base, ensuring that our natural spaces will be protected is one way to make people like me to be more receptive to certain governments. It may be possible to argue the climate benefits of certain projects, such as mining developments in pursuit of minerals critical to green energy, but it is also important to recognize that the single largest threat to biodiversity is habitat destruction. This is why environmental assessments are so critical; as one of the most wild large countries left on earth it is CRUCIAL that we do not make the same mistakes as the rest of the world did as they developed. Assuming that animals will “just move somewhere else” works until it dosent, and the rest of the world has learned that the hard way. Once again I respect the need for more industrial projects, however it is critical that they are carried out in a way that does not destroy priceless natural national heritage, which will also only make future conservation efforts more expensive as we try to fix what we have recklessly broken. I implore this government and the Premier to take this into consideration, I know that there is a good chance that this will fall on deaf ears but I have to hang onto the hope that we aren’t like the United States, and that our politicians are open to honest discussions on matters as important as these.

Regards, a concerned citizen.