There's no business case for gutting our national environment laws

The Coalition-led state governments have all played a duplicitous role with industries lobbying in the drive to wind back or hand over approval processes. The first statements made by Queensland's premier, Campbell Newman, to newly elected Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who on his election night claimed, "Australia is now open for business", were focused on the Commonwealth "getting out of the way" of the state's planning and approvals process with the clear intention to achieve state self-regulation.

Environmental self-regulation by state governments represents a massive conflict of interest as states are often heavily invested in projects that require approval under the EPBC Act.

The Victorian and New South Wales governments have enormous financial interests as the largest single investors or investment partners in transport infrastructure and urban expansion development projects. And, Western Australia and Queensland are immensely focused on revenue from export gas and coal extraction.

With no apparent business case, this campaign by the business lobby is clearly rhetoric devised by the fossil fuel industry, infrastructure developers and complicit state governments to serve their vested interests at the expense of our natural environment.

Our national environment laws were designed to protect and conserve the unique landscapes and wildlife that Australians love, not expedite their destruction.