[Greens-Media] Minister doesn't get it: extinction is forever

[Ludlam, Scott (Sen R. Siewert)]

Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senator for WA

MEDIA RELEASE


Sunday, 7 May 2006

Minister doesn't get it: extinction is forever

"The response of the Government to the news that Australia has the
fourth highest number of threatened species of any country highlights
the difference between the Greens' approach to conservation and the
Governments'", Senator Rachel Siewert said today. Australia is listed by
the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as having 639 species known to be at
risk. 

"Environment Minister Ian Campbell's response to this appalling news is
to proudly re-state the list of Government policies which have just been
demonstrated to be inadequate. The fact that we are right at the top of
the IUCN Red List surely rings alarm bells that Australia is not doing
enough." 

Globally, one in three amphibians and a quarter of the world's
coniferous trees, one in eight birds and one in four mammals are now
known to be at risk of extinction as a result of human activities.

"The Greens recommend the Minister stops using Australia's environmental
legislation as a political weapon against wind-farms and starts using it
to protect the ecosystems which sustain our entire economy," Senator
Siewert said. 

In particular, there are a number of measures the Government could take
immediately to stem the tide of extinction, which the Greens have been
promoting for decades. 





For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025
Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  |  http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au