Campbell takes more credit than due
06 Sep 2004
On the weekend HSI and WWF released a report showing Australian Governments have not met 52% of agreed targets to conserve the continent's mighty biological diversity. Commenting on the findings, the two leading conservation organisations warned that Australia is falling far short of what it takes to avert the wave of extinctions that are upon us.
Senator Ian Campbell has suggested the report is an "objective, clear scientifically based endorsement of the Howard Government's leadership on the issue of landclearing". While HSI and WWF do acknowledge progress made by the Commonwealth, states and territories in some areas, we did not endorse the progress of any jurisdiction as doing the job required.
"It is HSI and WWF's view that if all Governments continue to only do half the job they set themselves, more and more species will be added to threatened species lists, impoverishing ecosystem health all across Australia. The real take home message from the report is that a massive job remains outstanding" said Dr Ray Nias, WWF Director of Conservation.
Indeed, HSI and WWF have challenged both the ALP and the Coalition parties to commit to a new National Biodiversity Initiative to tackle the massive conservation challenges facing the continent.
HSI and WWF are disappointed that Senator Campbell did not provide a response to that call in his weekend press release. We are also looking forward to hearing from the ALP on the matter.
"In the next term of Federal Government, Australia needs a well-resourced and well executed Action Plan, to secure the nation's rich biological assets and rescue hundreds of species from impending extinction, said Michael Kennedy HSI Campaign Director. "To implement such an Action Plan, resources and political support must be given to the Department of Environment parallel to those enjoyed by resource management agencies"
On the matter of lanclearing, HSI and WWF also remember that the Queensland Beattie Government was forced to act unilaterally to implement new legislation to end landclearing rates in that state by 2006. This followed months waiting for the Commonwealth Government to finalise negotiations with farm lobby groups intent on frustrating the process. The $75 million the Commonwealth Government had committed to implement the Queensland landclearing reforms was withdrawn.
HSI and WWF are also very disappointed with the Commonwealth Government's failure to use the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to protect habitats from threats such as landclearing. The Commonwealth has failed dismally to keep lists of threatened ecological communities and critical habitat up to date. Of over 1400 threatened species, only 4 have had their critical habitat listed by the Commonwealth on the EPBC Act Register and only one on mainland Australia. For the past 3 years over 500 threatened ecological communities have been stuck in a backlog waiting for Commonwealth protection. The Howard Government has listed only 6 ecological communities for EPBC Act protection in the past four years.
A copy of the National Biodiversity Initiative, proposed by a coalition of conservation organisations called the National Biodiversity Alliance is available online (Download now) or from WWF and HSI offices.
WWF-Australia Press Office; Andy Ridley, 02 8202 1237 or 0415 865 992 aridley@wwf.org.au
HSI Press contact; Nicola Beynon,: 02 9973 1728 or 0404 065 517
