2022-05-10
Media release
Greens leader Adam Bandt MP and environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young have launched Green Australia, a plan to halt the extinction crisis, plant 2 billion trees and restore and protect our natural environment.
The fully-costed plan invests $24 billion over the next decade in a mass greening and restoration program, and establishes an Independent Environment Watchdog to enforce stronger environmental laws and hold governments, mining corporations and property developers to account.
After nine years of attacks on our environmental laws by the Liberal-National parties, devastating climate events including bushfires and floods, and environmental destruction and land clearing by mining companies and property developers, Australia's natural environment needs more investment than ever.
With our ecosystems on the verge of collapse and species extinction so rapid, Australia has the highest rates of mammal extinction in the world.
Greens Leader, Adam Bandt said:
“Our environment is in crisis. Australia is the world leader in mammal extinction. More species of mammals die here than anywhere else, and they’re going extinct because of global heating and the Liberals’ decades-long refusal to protect our country.
“Coal and gas are killing our environment, but Labor and Liberal want 114 new coal and gas projects. Only the Greens will stop new coal and gas projects and protect our environment.
“Our forests, wildlife and oceans are dying and we are at a point in history where, if we don’t act, we face total ecosystem collapse.
“Australia is destroying its own icons and identity. The destruction of our environment and the loss of beautiful and unique species is one of the greatest failings in our nation’s history.
“Conservation of Australia’s spectacular environment is at the heart of Australian values and the Greens will always fight to protect it.
“The Greens are the only party in this campaign with costed plans to tackle the extinction crisis and protect our environment.
“Pre-poll has begun and voting 1 Greens is a vote for environmental protection and a safe, liveable planet. In balance of power, the Greens will kick the Liberals out and push the next Government to go further and faster for our climate and our environment by stopping new coal and gas mines, and creating thousands of jobs to restore nature, boost the economy, protect our air and water and soil, and halt the extinction crisis.
Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Australians are deeply concerned about the state of our environment and they know they can trust the Greens to protect it. From our wildlife, beaches and forests, our Green Australia policy will protect nature and create more green spaces and parks in our cities and towns.
"Not only are we at a tipping point for irreversible global heating, but we are at a tipping point for ecosystem collapse.
"The Liberal-Nationals have let mining corporations and property developers destroy precious habitat for our native wildlife and pollute our environment, killing off native species forever and
driving animals like our iconic koala to the brink.
"It is now or never to stop further losses and protect and restore our environment and wildlife.
"Green Australia will help make up the shortfall of investment and care factor that we have lacked while the Morrison Government has been in power.
"We can protect koala habitat, plant two billion trees by 2030, green our cities, regions and suburbs, and make our rivers and lakes swimmable again. And we can create jobs to do it.
"In the last parliament, the Greens held off the Morrison Government's attempts to weaken environmental laws in favour of their mining mates. In balance of power, the Greens will move to strengthen environment protection laws and outlaw land clearing of critical habitat.
“In the next parliament, Greens in balance of power will also push to legislate for an independent environment watchdog to enforce stronger laws and hold governments, miners and developers to
account.
"We will demand the next government sets a zero extinction target and moves to protect 30% of land and 30% of Australian seas by 2030.
"We can afford to give our environment and precious wildlife the investment and protections needed to ensure survival, and we absolutely cannot afford to not or we will lose so much more, forever."
The Greens plan includes:
- Stopping the extinction crisis through setting a goal of Zero Extinction by 2030 and investing in a mass greening and restoration program, to ensure we are protecting habitats for our native animals and plants.
- Greening Australia by investing $24.4 billion over the next decade, including by restoring wildlife habitat, planting 2 billion trees by 2030 and reestablishing green space in our cities, regions and suburbs.
- Ending native forest logging to help reduce fire risk, and support workers transitioning into sustainable plantation forestry.
- Saving the Great Barrier Reef with grants to improve farming practices to stop runoff, stopping damaging maritime projects, and banning offshore dumping to protect our oceans.
- Protecting our natural environment and wildlife from land clearing, pollution and destruction by strengthening Environment Protection Laws.
- Establish an Independent Environment Watchdog to enforce stronger environmental laws and hold governments, mining corporations and property developers to account.
- Making our rivers swimmable by 2030, including Adelaide’s Torrens River, Melbourne’s Yarra, and Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, so we can create new jobs and boost tourism.
- Saving the Murray Darling from corporate greed through water recovery targets and water buybacks.
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