Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world and is losing more biodiversity than any other developed nation.
Key points:
- The Green Australiaplan will cost $24.4 billion over the next decade
- The policy calls for an Independent Environment Protection Watchdog
- If the Greens hold the balance of power in the next parliament the watchdog will be a top priority
The Greens’ plan hopes to halt that through investments in mass greening and restoration, stronger environmental laws, ending native logging and ensuring mines are assessed on their climate impacts before approval.
“Our forests, wildlife and oceans are dying and we are at a point in history where, if we don’t act, we face total ecosystem collapse,” Greens leader Adam Bandt said.
Environmentalists have been calling for the federal government to release it’s five-yearly State of the Environment report before the election.
It has been sitting on Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s desk since December.
The report is required to be tabled within 15 parliamentary sitting days of the minister receiving it, but due to the election, Ms Ley does not legally need to release it until the next parliament.
Protection watchdog
In 2019, a senate inquiry into Australia’s animal extinction crisis found the laws meant to protect our fauna had failed, with massive exemptions and loopholes.
Last year, a landmark report into Australia’s national environment laws found urgent reforms were needed to prevent further extinctions and called for an “independent cop”to oversee them.
Greens environment spokesperson senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the watchdog was needed to hold those who destroy the environment to account.
“For far too long, big mining corporations, big developers have got away with destroying, bulldozing and wrecking our environment and the homes of animals,” she said.
“They need to be held to account an independent watchdog will do that.”
Around 3billion animals were killed or displaced during the Black Summer bushfires, making it worst single event for wildlife in Australia and among the worst in the world.
Earlier this year, the koala was listed as endangered in NSW, Queensland and the ACT, and Ms Hanson-Young said the Australian government has to do everything it can to save them.
“We’re on the brink of losing animals like the koala forever and for far too long it’s been brushed aside. We need to step in, protect our animals and protect their habitat,” she said.
The federal government rejected the recommendation for an independent regulator.
Federal Labor has supported introducing an independent watchdog in the past but is yet to announce its policy for the upcoming election.
The Greens’ plan also calls for 2billion trees to be planted by 2030 and for bushfire-ravaged forests and bushlands to be restored.
The party said they will pay for it by taxing billionaires and big corporations and the plan will create 10,240 direct and 17,740 indirect new jobs.
