Hundreds rally in Brisbane to demand action on threatened species

Hundreds have marched on Queensland's parliament house today demanding stronger action for nature protection, as the state continues to lead the country with the highest number of threatened species.

Around 200 concerned citizens and environmental groups today marched in Brisbane's CBD, and demanding the ALP and LNP outline their plan to address the extinction crisis in the lead up to the October election.

The rally called on both political parties to commit to a range of urgent measures to tackle the extinction crisis in the state, including

• Setting a target of no new species extinctions
• Introducing an independent environmental protection agency
• Ending deforestation and protecting habitat across the state
• Doubling the state's protected areas estate by 2030
• Invest at least $200 million per annum of Qld state money for threatened species protection and recovery.

It comes as 13 new species have been added to Queensland's threatened species list under the Nature Conservation Act, alarming conservationists about the state of the environment in Queensland.

Today's rally follows Threatened Species Day on 7 September, and comes as 50+ scientists co-sign a letter calling on both sides of Parliament to prioritise nature and end the biodiversity crisis.

Natalie Frost, Nature Campaigner and ecologist, Queensland Conservation Council said:

Queensland is the most biodiverse state in Australia, which is the sixth most biodiverse country on the planet. Yet Queensland also has some of the most threatened wildlife and some of the highest rates of deforestation in the world.

We've heard from communities across the state who are deeply concerned about the fates of wildlife from the bush to the reef, including greater gliders, koalas, quolls, turtles and dugongs.

Despite there being 1075 plants and animals on the brink of extinction in Queensland, both political parties have not yet released their plans to save threatened species.

Nature can't afford to wait.

Paul Spearim, Protect Country Strategist and First Nations voice, Queensland Conservation Council said:

As a young boy growing up on and along my waterways within my Gamilaraay Nation I have noticed in some parts of our waterways that it’s so hard trying to wait patiently to see if buubumurr the platypus is swimming freely in abundance like it once did.

This is the same as bagu the greater glider and also some of our traditional bush medicines and grains which have been stripped from the land to make way for cattle and sheep grazing and now most of our animals, plants and waterways are being lost due to the impacts of deforestation, invasive species, and climate change.

Professor Hugh Possingham, Co-chief Councillor at the Biodiversity Council and Queensland's former Chief Scientist said:

We are throwing tiny cups of water on nature's raging fire.

Everyone knows the dangers of the climate crisis, but the lesser known and equally scary threat of the biodiversity crisis is here and needs swift attention from our political leaders.