In a recent article in The Sydney Morning Herald[1],
Kelly O’Shanassy, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF),
commented on the latest national State of the Environment report.
She said that while
there were some positive signs such as improvements to the Murray-Darling Basin
through increased environmental flows, the “story is grim”.
The report points to inadequate funding and a lack of
effective national coordinated action which has contributed to the current state
of our environment. Federal government spending to protect and restore nature
in Australia is at its lowest level in a decade and is expected to decline
further. For every $100 of federal
expenditure less than 5 cents reaches conservation programs.
She points out that while government spending on the
environment is so small it is “preparing to spend $1 billion of taxpayers’
money to help build Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal mine in Queensland, which,
ironically, will be a major source of pollution for decades to come.”
The ACF believes the government needs to increase funding
for the environment by at least 400% “if it is to reverse the dramatic decline
of Australia’s wildlife, reefs and forests.”
O’Shanassy points to
the economic benefits that a healthy environment brings in sectors such as
tourism and agricultural production.
“Nature in Australia is one of the key drawcards for
international visitors, worth about $40 billion to the economy based on figures
from Ecotourism Australia.”
“Healthy water catchments reduce nutrient loading, salinity
and erosion. Healthy soils increase
productivity through better water retention and nutrient cycling. Increased biodiversity improves native pollinators,
which improve yields. Native species can
play a critical role in natural pest control.”
In conclusion O’Shanassy called on political and business
leaders to stand up on this issue.
