We hear about the importance of biodiversity, the rich diversity of species in natural areas and the urgent need for protection.
In 2015, the Queensland Government adopted a long-term target of increasing protected areas to 17% of the state’s landmass.
At present only 8.83% is within protected or conserved areas in Queensland. The lowest in Australia. This figure pales in comparison to the 42.3% in Tasmania, 24.9% in the Northern Territory and 30.1% in Western Australia.
To date, there has been a failure to adequately fund new national park acquisitions. Budgets for purchasing land for new national parks have been dramatically cut. Up to 65 per cent, from nearly $20 million per year over the period 2012-15, to less than $6 million per year subsequently.
Queensland conservation groups identified 175 properties since 2015 with very high biodiversity value that could have been bought and protected, but were not.
A lack of funding, missed opportunities and failing protected area targets highlights that we are wasting valuable time and taxpayer dollars in getting the Queensland government to do anything properly and productively for the environment.
The Green Outlaw 