The
Australian Government’s State of the Environment Report, 2021,
says, “Overall, the state and trend of the environment of Australia are poor and deterorating as a result of increasing pressures from climate change, habitat
loss, invasive species, pollution and resource extraction.”
Over 2000 native Australian species of flora, fauna and fungi are listed as threatened. More than 80 species are described as ‘critically endangered’. Not to mention the dozens of ecological communities (e.g. “central Gippsland plains grassland community”) and processes (e.g. “loss of hollow-bearing trees from Victorian native forests”), also listed. The inventory of threatened species, communities and processes grows almost daily.
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| Waterford Rise Warragul |
A few locals on the threatened list include:
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| Clockwise: Southern Brown Bandicoot, Graceful Sun-orchid, Purple Diuris, Gang-gang Cockatoo |
A survey of nearly 4000 people conducted in Nov-Dec 2024 by Monash University for the Biodiversity Council, found strong support for: strengthening environmental laws to protect nature, protecting native species habitat from developments such as mines and urban expansion and establishing national environmental standards for the protection of the environment from developments.
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| Buln Buln Rd Drouin |
Less than 5% of people surveyed expressed opposition to environmental law reforms.
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| Credit: Monash University Behaviour Works Australia and Biodiversity Council |
A review of the EPBC Act more than 5 years ago found that the laws were ineffective and in need of urgent reform. A summary of points from the review included, “The EPBC Act is ineffective. It does not enable the Commonwealth to play its role in protecting and conserving environmental matters that are important for the nation. It is not fit to address current or future environmental challenges. Fundamental reform of national environmental law is required…”
In 2022, the Government’s response was to produce the Nature Positive Plan. More than two years later we are still waiting!
So why are the government’s Nature Positive Bills, which would reform the 25-year-old Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and establish national environmental standards, currently stalled in the Senate? Mainly because there is a Western Australia state election on the 8th March and the WA Labor party does not want to lose votes from the powerful mining industry and our Labor PM wishes to appease Roger Cook, the WA state Labor premier. We now have to wait until after the next Federal election in May, for the Labor party to raise the bills again in the Senate (maybe).
In the meantime …?
Ed: sorry for the recent posts of a negative nature – I’m getting old. I promise to do my best to find a positive topic shortly.
Gouldiae.
