Australia is in an extinction crisis.
Our bush is being bulldozed, one of our most iconic species, the koala is directly in the firing line, and the Albanese government is dragging its feet on delivering long-promised new nature laws that protect our big backyard.
For the second year in a row, ACF conducted an exclusive analysis of Australia’s extinction crisis, revealing that in 2024, 56 Australian species and ecological communities were added to the threatened species list or recognised as moving closer towards extinction.
Koalas in the firing line for extinction
Koalas are the internationally recognised, unique eucalypt-dwelling creatures that spark such fascination in visitors and locals alike.
But we could see a future without them.
ACF has discovered that, in 2024, the Albanese Government approved over 3,000 hectares of koala habitat to be destroyed. That’s more habitat approved to be destroyed than for any other threatened species and triple the amount of destruction approved in 2023.
Need a visual? The 3,000 hectares approved for destruction is around three times the size of Sydney Airport.
This is not on. Koalas are already at very real risk of extinction in New South Wales by 2050 with habitat destruction recognised nationwide as the most significant threat to the marsupial’s existence.
Our bush is being bulldozed
Species like koalas need what’s left of their homes to be protected. And yet, in 2024, the Albanese Government approved a total of 25,769 hectares of threatened species habitat to be destroyed – that’s the size of 92 Sydney CBDs. It’s also more than double the amount approved to be destroyed in 2023.
Alarmingly, this is nowhere near the full story.
One landmark study from 2019 found that 93% of threatened species habitat destruction occurred without any federal government approval.
That means that the 25,769 hectares could be under 10% of the threatened species habitat that was actually destroyed.
More often than not, the Aussie bush is being bulldozed without approvals from our national nature laws.
We have two key problems here:
- Our nature laws aren’t protecting nature. 25,769 hectares of threatened species habitat should never have been approved for destruction. In December last year, despite strong support in parliament for new nature laws, Prime Minister Albanese himself caved to pressure from mining and business and thwarted their progress.
- Bulldozing is happening without approval at an alarming scale. Forests and bush are being bulldozed to make way for agriculture (particularly beef), mining and infrastructure projects all over the country without proper approvals. This destruction cannot continue to go unchecked.
So, what's the solution?
1. Stop bulldozing the bush
We must keep up pressure on the Albanese Government to pass laws that protect Australia’s threatened species and their habitats from being destroyed.
Even mining giant Rio Tinto has broken ranks with its peers by calling on Albanese to prioritise the reforms so that Australia has a chance at a nature positive future and business has clarity about what it can and cannot do when it comes to projects that impact our big backyard.
We must establish an independent and well-funded National Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that new nature laws are implemented and enforced.
There is strong support in parliament for a new national regulator that will assess projects that might harm nature, investigate illegal bulldozing of the bush and hand bigger penalties to those breaking the law.
The EPA’s independence will be crucial to ensuring that vested interests can’t influence decisions that undermine the protection of nature.
2. Stop the climate wreckers
No more green lights for big coal and gas polluters.
ACF’s report found that in 2024, the Albanese government approved 10 new or expanded climate-wrecking fossil fuel projects. And how many were rejected? None.
With extreme weather events fuelled by climate change continuing to devastate our beautiful big backyard and harm wildlife, these approvals are nothing short of ridiculous.
What can you do?
With parliament soon to return for 2025 and an election looming, we need our representatives to deliver strong new laws and an environmental protection agency.
The legislation is on the table, the solutions are at hand.
Let’s send the message loud and clear.
Sign the pledge for climate and nature and tell the people that want to represent you they must be ready to solve the extinction crisis to get your vote.