2020-05-07
The Victorian Greens have welcomed the commencement of an inquiry into the state’s extinction crisis and said that it will be a critical step towards finding solutions in the wake of the summer bushfires.
The Greens-established inquiry will investigate and report on the decline of Victoria’s ecosystems and the measures in place to protect threatened and endangered species.
At present there are over 700 native plants, animals, insects and ecosystems under threat.
The recent bushfires have only worsened the rate of extinction in Victoria, after destroying more than 50 per cent of the habitat for 185 rare and threatened Victorian animals and plants.
Victorian Greens spokesperson for environment, Ellen Sandell, said the bushfires added further urgency to the Greens’ inquiry and that she was pleased it was getting underway.
She added that as Victorians come to grips with the economic fallout from COVID-19, the solutions discovered through the inquiry could help to create much-needed public jobs.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens spokesperson for environment, Ellen Sandell MP:
“The Greens initiated this parliamentary inquiry because we're in an extinction crisis. In Victoria over 700 native plants, animals, insects and ecosystems are endangered and threatened.
“This is an opportunity for people to tell the Victorian Government we want more action to restore Victoria's environment and threatened species."