Greens call for urgent introduction of the State’s Biodiversity Conservation Bill

Media Release, 31 August 2007

Greens MLC, Giz Watson today said, “Western Australia has an inexcusable record in protecting the State’ native wildlife.”

The latest information released this week by the Australian National University reveals that the north of the state could experience extinctions on a par with the southern half of the state where 42 of 200 mammals are extinct.

“The State Government is failing our endangered wildlife by not completing and introducing the Biodiversity Conservation Bill.”

The State of the Environment Report, compiled by the Environmental Protection Authority, issued earlier this year, notes that Western Australia has 199 threatened animals.

That report made an urgent call for modern biodiversity conservation laws.

“I first asked a question in Parliament about the then ‘long awaited Biodiversity Conservation Bill’ in August, 2004, said Ms Watson.

“I now call for the urgent completion and introduction of the Bill before our appalling record becomes worse.”