Lost in translation : threatened species law in Australia

This chapter will explore the current trends in biodiversity in Australia, the mining boom underway and the evolution of environmental law in Australia since the ‘Rio Declaration on Environment and Development’ (commonly known as the Rio Declaration). The discussion will use a case study focusing on threatened species legislation as the lens to explore the issues. It will concentrate on an IUCN red listed endangered species, the Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iterates) whose habitat is potentially threatened by mining activities in the state of NSW, Australia. Institutional issues surrounding the protection of threatened species and their habitats will be examined by comparing legal intent and actual practice. The chapter concludes that the intent of species protection law is currently ‘lost in translation’. New policy initiatives currently underway in Australia will be critiqued and recommendations proposed for law and governance reforms required to adequately protect threatened species.