How does the party landscape compare?

Last week, the political agenda was finally set for the animals and plants at high risk of extinction. Labor and Greens launched biodiversity policies in advance of the federal election.

Labor’s policies included new funding for the Great Barrier Reef and long-term commitments for threatened species. The Greens promised A$24.4 billion in environmental funding over the next 10 years. We have not been able to find any new budget announcements by the Coalition that would include any commitments to biodiversity.

Protecting biodiversity isn’t just about the niceties of saving cute and cuddly animals. It’s about maintaining our Health prosperity, Productive agriculture liveable cities.

So let’s take a closer look at political party promises, and whether they’re enough to turn things around for Australia’s threatened species.

How high is the labor rate?

Labor’s Policy platform is spruiked as “a better future for the Great Barrier Reef and Australia’s unique environment”, and pledged an additional $194.5 million in reef protection programs.

The long-term commitment for a Saving Native Species (SNS) program is a welcome step. It includes $224.5million of funding to implement a national conservation strategy, support rangers, and address the backlog of 200 recovery plansThis is true for species like the Eltham Copper butterfly and the greater glider.

Funding for 1,000 Landcare Rangers in the country is also welcomed. These Rangers can help with land restoration, weed control, and feral animal control.

Labor, like the Coalition, has also pledged resources to bolster Landcare and the Indigenous Protected Area network. Indigenous Rangers.

Perhaps the most striking difference between Labor & the Coalition is their response to 2020 independent review of Australia’s key environment law, by Professor Graeme Samuel. Although the review included a number of recommendations to reform the law and preserve biodiversity, almost none have been implemented by current government.

These reforms will have a significant impact on the fate of ecosystems and species that are under pressure from habitat destruction and land clearing. Terri Butler, Shadow environment minister Labor would “provide a full government response to the Samuel review”.

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Also, labor is committed to establishing an Environment Protection Agency, calling it a “strong cop on the beat that is genuinely independent of the government”.

This is a significant difference with the Coalition. This recommendationReview by Samuel. It is clear that there is still a lack of transparency and independence. a weakness in the Coalition’s environmental regulation and reporting.

The elephant in the room is Labor’s plan to tackle climate change. While it’s a big improvement on the Coalition plan, it’s still consistent with a 2℃ global increaseTemperature this century

This temperature rise is likely to lead to a Dramatic loss of species, and drive Collapse of key ecosystemssuch as the Great Barrier Reef or alpine forests.

What about The Greens, though?

The Greens commitment to $24.4 billion over the next decade is for “restoring wildlife habitat, planting 2 billion trees by 2030 and re-establishing green space in our cities, regions and suburbs”.

This is a significant increase in resources compared to the Coalition or Labor platforms. It’s also consistent with an Economic analysisWe looked into the funding necessary to save threatened species from the brink.

Other commitments that are welcome include the end of native forest logging and grants to stop pollution in Great Barrier Reef.

Like Labor, the Greens would also strengthen Australia’s environment laws and create an an independent watchdog to enforce them.

In terms of climate change, the Greens want to cut Australia’s emissions to net zero by 2035. This is consistent with the internationally agreed level of global warming of 1.5℃ this century, and will have a Better results for species than under 2℃.

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The Coalition has demonstrated its colours

The Coalition has been at power for nine years and has already shown its strength. Its coloursWhen it comes down to caring for the environment.

It has approved, for instance, the destruction of more Than 200,000 hectaresIn the last ten years, there has been an increase in habitat for threatened species. Reduce fundingEnvironment department by more than 40% since 2014.

We searched the websites of Coalition, but did not find any new election commitments beyond March. Budget announcementsThe amount included $100 million for habitat restoration and threatened species protection, and $74 million to support koalas.

Sussan Leey, spokesperson for Environment Minister, told The Age last week that another term of government would see the Coalition reform national environment laws and provide greater certainty, spending $52 million on environment assessments with states and territories to cut “green tape”.

The Coalition’s climate policy is consistent with global warming of 3-4℃ this century. This would be It is a catastrophe for biodiversityMake it tropical Coral reefs are functionally extinct.

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What are we waiting?

Other political parties lack specific biodiversity policies, but make relevant – though very problematic – commitments.

One Nation, for example, state “we are the only political party to question climate science” and believe “Australia should withdraw from the United Nations Paris Agreement”. Katter’s Australian Party are “pro culling flying foxes” (of which some are endangered) and “aims to eliminate crocodiles from our waterways that pose a threat to human life”.

The policies of “teal” independents generally make sense for the environment. For example, Wentworth’s Allegra Spender states: “By investing in and protecting Wentworth’s stunning natural environment we’ll protect our health, wellbeing and tourism”. Likewise, Kooyong’s Monique Ryan wants to Cut emissions by at most 60% by 2030.

While land clearing and native timber harvesting remain prickly issues for the Coalition and Labor respectively, saving threatened species isn’t all about politically painful decisions. Many species could be saved by taking actions that are universally supported and would create employment throughout the country.

This includes significantly increased spending on controlling weeds, and feral species. Restoring degraded habitats will not only improve biodiversity, but also help to heal cultural heritage, and reduce emissions.

Supporting Australian conservation organizations, Traditional Owners, land managers and zoos to protect the most endangered species while bigger solutions are being developed, would also be appreciated. You can go a long ways.

The science and traditional knowledge required to chart this course and monitor the benefits are almost all in place. So what are you waiting for?

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