Our endangered species get…

Our endangered species get very little protection under the existing legislation. It has exemptions for the very industries most likely to make existence or extirpation of them an issue. The language surrounding the proposal certainly does not sound - after the introduction - to increase their protection. It seems more inclined to loosen up the appeals process so that developers will have their way with land use changes.

For that reason, I urge you to reconsider any such changes. There is such a thing as environmental capital. Once spent, it is very difficult or impossible to recoup. Certainly, there can be a spurt of desirable economic activity but that is gone soon enough. And the land consumption move on.