Planned ‘protection statements’ for five threatened species are a welcome but modest step, while much more is needed to protect and recover threatened species in next month’s federal budget, the Australian Conservation Foundation said.
Environment Minister Murray Watt today announced ‘pilot protection statements’ will be developed for the regent honeyeater, southern bent-wing bat, pygmy blue-tongue lizard, grand spider orchid and southern right whale.
“These species all desperately need greater government support if we want our kids and grandkids to be able to see them in the wild, but they represent just 0.2% of listed threatened species,” said ACF’s national biodiversity policy adviser Brendan Sydes.
“Starting a conversation about protection statements for these five species is a welcome but very modest move.
“Australia has 2316 nationally threatened plants, animals and ecosystems (694 fauna, 1514 flora and 108 ecological communities).
“Will there be protection statements for swift parrots, for Leadbeater’s possums and for northern quolls?
“Protection statements are one of the new tools the Albanese government now has available to deliver its commitment for stronger nature protection. Using these tools must be a high priority.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today announced $45m over four years to advance bilateral agreements with states and territories to ‘remove’ environmental assessment duplication.
“Prime Minister Albanese should remember a core promise of the environment law reforms is stronger protection for nature,” Mr Sydes said.
“While the Prime Minister seeks to impress a mining industry function in Westen Australia with promises for faster approvals, Australians also expect him to deliver on his government’s promise of stronger nature protection.
“The budget is a key test. It must fund stronger nature protection—especially action to protect and recover threatened species—and provide long-term funding for the new National Environmental Protection Agency so it can hit the ground running on 1 July and fix the EPBC Act’s long-standing enforcement failure.”
Swift parrot pic by Brendan Sydes