[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: 'Proposed Increases in Penalties for Polluters Still a Slap on the Wrist: Prevention and Enforcement are crucial' (Greens NSW MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Mehreen Faruqi]

Media Release
28.05.14
Proposed Increases in Penalties for Polluters Still a Slap on the Wrist: Prevention and Enforcement are crucial
Greens NSW MP and Spokesperson for the Environment, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, cautiously welcomed proposals to increase penalties for polluters but stated that they are still too weak to be a serious deterrent against environment offences. The major problem in New South Wales is a lack of focus on prevention and compliance.

"Today's announcement by the Minister for the Environment to increase penalties for environmental offences is an improvement on the current situation, but is still woefully inadequate to penalise environmental offenders.

"The most serious environmental offences in New South Wales will still only attract a maximum $15,000 fine for corporations, which is a miniscule proportion of the profits for big mining companies.

"Whilst I welcome the increases in penalties, it will still mean polluting our water and aquifers, poisoning our air or dumping of hazardous materials on land will still only be met with a relative slap on the wrist.

"But most importantly, the focus must be on preventing pollution and damage to environmental and human health in the first place.

"We need strengthening of environmental legislation and regulation, not the weakening we have seen under the Coalition government.

"Penalties are only effective if the Environmental Protection Agency is able to effectively identify, investigate and prosecute environmental offenders.

"Sadly, the community has seen many incidents including uranium contamination from coal seam gas operations in the Pilliga and coal dust effects on human health in the Hunter that do not restore faith in the Government's ability to monitor and take action.

"I understand there is a proposal to introduce alternative approaches to sentencing environmental offenders, including 'restorative justice actions'. The government must make sure that these actions are in addition to, not replacing, tough penalties that reflect the environmental and social impact of environmental offenders.

Contact: Matt Hilton 0423 106 247


Matt Hilton
Legislative, Policy and Media Adviser

Office of Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
Legislative Council | NSW Parliament
E: matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au<mailto:matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au>
P: (02) 9230 2625 | M: +61423106247|F: facebook.com/mehreenfaruqi | T: @MehreenFaruqi | W: mehreenfaruqi.org.au
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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