As Australia approaches the upcoming election, a pressing issue remains largely overlooked: the environment. At the same time, the country is undergoing perhaps the worst biodiversity crisis in its history, undergoing one of the fastest rates of extinction worldwide. More than 7.7 million hectares of threatened species habitat has been destroyed since 2000. The Australian Labor Party (ALP) finally released some creative plans of their own to address environmental issues. They pledge deep investments and durable reforms to return and protect our country’s rich and irreplaceable natural treasures.
The ALP aims to allocate 1 percent of the federal budget to environmental protection and restoration. Further, they have committed to investing $20 billion in biodiversity restoration over the next 10 years. The party has pledged to establish a $5 billion protected areas fund. They further seek to recognise the establishment of an independent First Nations voice by introducing a land and sea country commissioner. These initiatives are a direct response to the need for immediate regulatory change in the context of Australia’s rapid environmental decline.
The Current State of Australia’s Environment
Australia’s biodiversity crisis is dire and is illustrated by an alarming set of statistics. The nation in recent years has had one of the highest extinction rates in the world, with dozens of species currently one emergency away from extinction. The resulting loss of critical habitats has been a major contributor to this crisis. Since 2000, more than 7.7 million hectares of land, crucial for threatened species, have been lost to development and other human activities.
The Coalition’s environmental policies have received mixed reviews, with grades ranging from A for strengthening environmental laws to concerns about the adequacy of investment for nature protection. Environmental advocates criticize these policies as merely window dressing that avoid the need for more holistic and systemic environmental reform. James Trezise, the director of the Biodiversity Council, described the Coalition’s approach as “a failure.” He added that their strategies focus on moving development to market as quickly as possible, ignoring the negative environmental consequences that choice might create.
“In simple terms, their agenda is entirely geared towards fast-tracking development, seemingly irrespective of its potential environmental impact.” – James Trezise
The Australian Greens have tabled their own ambitious wishlist of environmental policy. Their intention is to reduce the time needed to approve a project by 50% and create a national interest environmental assessment system. Their proposals have largely earned failing grades compared to the Coalition’s policies. This discrepancy is emblematic of a larger discussion regarding the efficacy of current approaches to the global biodiversity crisis.
Labor’s Promises for Environmental Restoration
The Australian Labor Party have released some pretty big, ambitious ideas to address the climate crisis Australia is facing. Their mission is to advance a world where people and nature thrive in harmony. They are choosing to make a big leap. They’ll commit 1 percent of the federal budget to nature protection and restoration. This funding will help implement through-ways, designed to rehabilitate degraded migratory habitats, restore ecological connectivity, and mitigate biodiversity loss.
On top of this, the ALP has promised to invest $20 billion over ten years, targeted at biodiversity restoration projects. This funding will make possible on-the-ground projects that will restore damaged ecosystems and promote recovery efforts for endangered species. The creation of a $5 billion protected areas fund fits neatly with their plan to increase conservation management across more of Australia.
The ALP’s plan goes big on one key priority, committing to the establishment of a land and sea country commissioner. This commissioner would serve as a powerful independent and expert advocate for First Nations communities. This initiative aims to empower Indigenous Australians in managing their traditional lands and resources effectively, ensuring that traditional knowledge plays a central role in environmental decision-making.
“The aim must be to protect Australia’s environment while removing duplication, providing a higher degree of process certainty for proponents and speeding up project assessments.” – Labor
The ALP has already introduced a koala habitat clearing moratorium and promises to stop logging our forests, too. These steps further illustrate their commitment to protecting important habitats and preserving biodiversity.
Criticism and Challenges Ahead
Even with these exciting plans coming from the Australian Labor Party, much still stands in the way of producing strong environmental policies that work. Critics argue that while the ALP’s plans appear robust, they must ensure that implementation aligns with their commitments to protect biodiversity.
Rebecca Tomkinson, chief executive of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA, expressed concerns about existing policies, stating, “They’re not fit for purpose, they don’t protect the environment, they’re not good for business.” Yet, at the same time, this reveals a tension that exists between promoting economic activity and advancing environmental sustainability.
Shadow Environment Minister Jonathon Duniam has lashed the stakeholder-only secret consultations. He contended that this strategy has alienated key environmental constituencies and postponed needed reforms. This sentiment underscores the importance of transparency and inclusivity in developing environmental policies that address stakeholders’ needs while protecting Australia’s ecosystems.
“The uncertainty from the secret consultations with select groups has alienated environmental stakeholders and industries, and set the path of reform backwards, not forwards.” – Jonathon Duniam
With election day now just weeks away, Australian voters face important choices about how to manage the nation’s landscapes and ecosystem. The conversations about restoring and protecting biodiversity will be essential. It will set the agenda that decides the fate of Australia’s natural heritage.
