Conservation Volunteers Australia CEO Phil Harrison revealed today the service – set up in response to the Black Summer Bushfires and stood up again during recent flooding – had seen over 15,000 Australians sign up since 2020, while assisting over 1100 community groups and councils representing tens of thousands more.
Yet, Mr Harrison revealed the Albanese Government had quietly allowed funding to expire following their election in 2022, and nearly 12 months of attempts at resolution had been ignored by Ministers. This is despite the Coalition specifically committing to continuing funding the portal if re-elected.
Mr Harrison said it was particularly perplexing, given the Albanese Government had specifically referenced recent fires and floods as being behind many of their new threatened species' listings, while disaster recovery and future resilience were core to Labor's $224m Threatened Species Action Plan.
Examples include Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announcing in August "Bushfire affected species listed as threatened" such as the South-eastern Glossy Black Cockatoo and Mountain Skinks.
"The most-economical investment is keeping animals off the Threatened Species List in the first place. That requires a major boost in paid and unpaid volunteer workforces utilising everyday Australians to undertake everyday actions, every day, ranging from nature repair to data collection and reporting.
"After three years of floods, fires and border closures, we have the opportunity to reset our global sales pitch by ensuring Australia is dressed for success, starting with our world-famous wildlife and their habitats.
"Cutting access to tens of thousands of community volunteers and groups from the nation's frontline defence against natural disasters decimating our wildlife and their habitats puts more species under threat, not less."
Mr Harrison said he had long-hoped the funding cut was an oversight during the change of government, however the lack of response and resolution could only suggest more-political motives were at play.
"Conservation Volunteers Australia have long been the quiet achievers of the environment and climate sector. Our focus over 40 years has been on helping governments engage people, rather than engage in politics.
"As such, it's a significant step for us to speak up and speak out publicly, but's it's critical for the future of all native species – threatened or not – that governments walk the talk on nature."
The Albanese Government's decision to cut funds for the national disaster portal ($1.25 million/year – or just 5% of Labor's total Threatened Species Plan) contradicts comments by Minister Plibersek, including:
"The damage caused by the Black Summer bushfires is still being felt today and can be seen reflected in these listings today.
"The fires had an immense impact on our environment, from a small reptile found in the mountains to a bird that is at home on the coast – there is still a lot of work to do.
"We are working closely with experts and community groups to help prevent species decline and restore populations of endangered plants and animals."
Source: Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, Media Release, 19 August 2022.
It is also at odds with Minister Plibersek's claimed support for the importance of nature volunteering during her speech releasing the State of the Environment 2021 report:
"We've got thousands of volunteers out there, every weekend, planting trees, collecting rubbish, and cleaning up their local creek… They just need a government that cares as much as they do."
