2018-09-07
The government should hang its head in shame on Threatened Species Day today, say The Greens. Dozens of expert submissions to the Senate Inquiry into Animal Extinction have outlined the staggering numbers of animals and birds hurtling towards extinction and how the government is culpable.
“The evidence received by our inquiry so far shows that creature after creature from Leadbeater’s Possums to Black-Throated Finches are only just hanging in there, their lives on the brink,” said Greens Senator Janet Rice, Chair of the Inquiry.
“Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinctions and one of the highest overall extinction rates in the world, with 500 animals currently threatened with extinction. It’s astounding and appalling that a country as advanced and as wealthy as ours is robbing future generations of their chance to know and love our precious wildlife.”
“The Greens set up this much-needed inquiry into the extinction crisis to shine a light on what is killing these animals and what needs to happen to protect them.”
“It’s clear already that so much of this loss is avoidable. Strong laws to protect these animals and proper funding for recovery plans would make a huge difference.”
“Yet our government is slashing funding and jobs in the federal environment department, and giving into the demands of the miners, loggers and property developers, and our precious wildlife is paying the price.”
“Over twelve thousand Australians have already let the Inquiry know of their concerns about our threatened wildlife - this is a massive show of public support for urgent strong action to stop the extinction crisis."
“There is no more appropriate time to focus on what needs to happen to protect our threatened wildlife than on Threatened Species Day, which commemorates the death of the last Tasmanian Tiger on 7 September 1936.”
Submissions for the inquiry can be made until Monday and can be viewed here.