- AMCS welcomes Greens pledge to invest 1% of the federal budget in nature protection.
- Australia's oceans face an extinction crisis - urgent investment is needed to halt species decline by 2030
- Strong nature laws must be delivered to stop extinctions protect important habitat
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has welcomed the Australian Greens party's commitment today to allocate 1% of the federal budget to nature protection, and to reform Australia's national environment laws.
AMCS said the Greens commitment should set a benchmark for all political parties, Independents and candidates vying for a seat in the next Australian Parliament.
The announcement comes amid growing public alarm over the degradation of our coasts and oceans – from the simultaneous coral bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo, to the looming extinction of iconic marine species.
AMCS Chief Executive, Paul Gamblin, said: "Our threatened marine species have never faced a greater risk of extinction. Yet protection and recovery efforts remain drastically underfunded - with less than 0.01% of the federal budget currently directed to nature. It's like trying to fight a bushfire with a single bucket of water - completely inadequate for the scale of the crisis.
"Research undertaken by the University of Melbourne for AMCS and the Biodiversity Council shows that an investment of $340 million dollars per year is needed to prevent the extinction of the 95 listed threatened marine species. That's a bargain when you consider Australia's ocean environments, and industries that they underpin, support 462,000 jobs in Australia and contribute $150 billion to the Australian economy each year.
"Dedicating 1% of the federal budget to nature would be a game-changing step - a vital investment to reverse the damage and stop species decline by 2030.
Mr Gamblin said that in addition to funding, Australia urgently needs strong and modern environment laws that address the impacts of climate change, restore habitats and protect our oceans and coasts from industrial threats.
"Just last week, both major parties backed legislation that pushed the endangered Maugean skate closer to extinction." he said.
"Australians want leaders who will govern for the greater good, not bow to short-term corporate interests. Our wildlife, our economy, our culture and future generations depend on real leadership, now more than ever."
AMCS is calling on all political parties and candidates to commit to:
- At least 1% of the federal budget to protect and restore nature, including ocean and coastal ecosystems
- Strong, modern environmental laws that prevent extinctions and stop habitat destruction
- Bold action on climate, including a ban on offshore drilling in sensitive marine areas like Scott Reef and the Victorian surf coast
- Greater ocean protection investment, recognising the ecological and cultural value of marine ecosystems
"This election is about more than policy - it's about our way of life, our cultural heritage and the future of our economy," Mr Gamblin said. "The time for half measures is over. We need leaders with courage and vision - leaders who will act decisively to defend our oceans and coasts."
