My disappointment is in the emotional reporting of a complicated case with a tragic outcome. The Register chose to report only those facts which cast a negative light on the paediatrician who managed the child, and to report them sensationally. They did not interview the paediatrician, did not report the full text of the HCCC report (in particular ignored the dissenting report which recommended no caution), and did not wait for the results of the Coroner’s case which is still outstanding.  

Cases such as these are a tragedy for all involved, particularly the family, but also for nurses, doctors and ambulance officers. The pubic have a right to be confident that they will receive competent care from properly trained doctors and nurses who are doing their best. The paediatrician involved has given 30 years of hard-working and expert service to this area, saving lives and improving the health of many children. The best legacy of this tragedy will come from a careful examination of the facts and the enhancement of services where needed.

There seems little doubt that Baird’s draft Biodiversity bill will allow more land clearing, and put the welfare and conservation of wildlife at risk. But why should we care?

Last week Dr Turbill (UWS) said “it is difficult to see how this would not result in even greater levels of land clearing”. Dr Sweeney, a senior ecologist with the National Parks Association of NSW, said "NSW is at a stroke undermining Greg Hunt's efforts to tackle climate change”. The Guardian agreed, saying that when Qld introduced similar legislation, so much vegetation was cleared that almost all thegains made in recent years to reduce greenhouse gasses have been lost.

The control mechanism for land clearing is to be based on maps that identify what can and can't be cleared. Last week new research showed the department’s maps seriously under-estimated the rate of land clearing in NSW. Not by 20 or 50 per cent but a whopping 600 per cent.  This demonstrates the rationale behind the draft bill was wrong from the start and brings into question the credibility of these maps in managing land.

Last month RSPCA Queensland reported native animal injuries had more than doubled over three years in which land-clearing laws were relaxed by the former Liberal National government.

Can we trust NSW government’s promise to consult with key stakeholders? In recent months, key stakeholders (conservation NGOs) took the unprecedented step of walking out of consultations, saying the government had already decided the outcome and was refusing tolisten to experts who had found serious risks in the proposals. Why would they start listening now?

Sure, this draft legislation will make things easier in the short term for developers and agribusiness, but if they get it wrong (and that seems likely) it is our children and grandchildren will pay the cost. 

This week another 49 Australian species were added to threatened species list, and climate change is now a scientific certainty. This draft legislation will make both of these threats to our safety and livelihood worse - not better. It just isn't worth the risk.