Australia urged to overhaul environment laws and reverse 'decline of our iconic places'

Graeme Samuel makes 38 recommendations to transform the EPBC Act, including new independent oversight bodies

The Morrison government must overhaul Australia's environmental laws, including establishing new independent bodies to take on responsibility for monitoring the environment and enforcing compliance with the law, a once-in-a-decade independent review has found.

The final report from the review of the laws finds the environment is suffering from two decades of failure by governments to improve protection systems meant to ensure the survival of the country's unique wildlife.