The Victorian Greens have called on the state government to drastically increase its funding for biodiversity and threatened species, following the release of a damning Auditor-General report into the lack of protection for Victoria’s biodiversity.
The report found that funding available to DELWP fell significantly short of what was needed, and that the Department could not demonstrate whether or not it was halting the decline of our threatened species, as well as a raft of other shortcomings.
It also found that the Department’s approach to protecting threatened species lacked transparency, objectivity and scientific rigour, and was likely missing species at extreme risk of extinction.
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, said it was outrageous that as a result of government underfunding so many of our threatened species weren’t being adequately protected.
She added that Victorians valued nature deeply and that it was time for the government to step up and play its role with a significant injection of new and ongoing funding for biodiversity programs.
It’s extremely concerning that DELWP has received just half of the initial funding and one third of the ongoing funding it has requested to address loss of biodiversity in Victoria.
The Greens-established inquiry into Victoria’s extinction crisis recently wrapped up its hearings and is due to report later this year. It heard from many experts who also said things that were very similar to the Auditor-General’s concerns about the lack of government funding for biodiversity.
As stated by Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
“Today’s report clearly states the Victorian Labor Government is not doing nearly enough to protect Victoria’s threatened species, and not putting in enough funding to stop them from going extinct. This is incredibly disappointing.
“Victorians love nature and our precious endangered species, and they will be very disappointed to learn that the Victorian Labor Government is doing so little to protect them.
“The Victorian Government needs to step up and put more funding into protecting our precious plants and animals before it’s too late.”
