The addition of two lizards, a sea snake, a fish, a crayfish and 15 plants, including the Gibraltar Range waratah, to the threatened species list highlights the need for a strong, independent environment protection agency, the Australian Conservation Foundation said today.
The McCulloch anemone fish, the Conondale spiny crayfish, the Moritz leaf-tale gecko and the granite leaf-tailed gecko are among the species added.
The King Island scrub complex ecosystem was also listed as a threatened ecological community.
"Invasive weeds, feral pests and habitat destruction remain the main reasons for new additions to the list, while climate change continues to exacerbate other threats," said Paul Sinclair, ACF's Campaigns Director.
"Australia has a problem, with analysis by ACF finding more species were added to the national threatened species list in 2023 than in any other year since the list was established.
"Australia's creeks, forests, lizards, birds, woodlands and wetlands need nature laws with teeth and a strong, independent environment protection agency to enforce them.
"We call on the government to listen to those asking for the environment protection agency to be strengthened, rather than the mining industry, which wants the proposed body weakened.
"ACF urges the government and Senate crossbenchers to work together to negotiate amendments to the bills presently before parliament to make sure we get a strong, independent EPA that will be transparent in its decision making and accountable to the public.
"A strong, independent and well-resourced regulator is critical for Australia to move beyond the situation where vested interests influence decision making, undermining nature protection.
"Every day and every decision matters for our wildlife. Further delays to nature law reform risk more extinctions."
Header pic by Ethan Beaver, via iNaturalist
