The Hon. Melissa Price MP
Minister for the Environment
The Government is moving to implement detailed recovery plans to assist two species listed on the Threatened Species Strategy, including the Brush-tailed Rabbit-rat and the Central Rock rat, and the ecological communities of the Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia and the Clay Pans of the Swan Coastal Plain in WA.
It was also necessary last week for me to transfer the Spectacled Flying-fox from the Vulnerable to the Endangered category of the national threatened species list, based on the robust science provided by the CSIRO-led monitoring program.
The uplisting of the Spectacled Flying-fox reflects the Government's heightened concern for its future, given that the population has halved in the past decade, and was heavily impacted by a recent heat stress event in north Queensland. It is important that we work with the Queensland Government and the broader community to conserve this species.
The listing of species is critical in coordinating recovery efforts across all States and Territories and builds on the $425 million the Government has invested in protecting and preserving Australia's most threatened species since coming to office.
The Brush-tailed Rabbit-rat is found in monsoonal areas of northern Australia, while the Central Rock rat is located primarily in the Northern Territory.
Listing ensures a planned and logical framework to coordinate conservation efforts across Government and key interest groups and is based on detailed scientific investigation.
Based on the Committee's expert advice, I have also decided to refine the listing for ten threatened species.
Any uplisting is concerning to me, but I have tremendous faith in the science and planning that goes into monitoring and supporting our environment, its flora and fauna, and in the strength of these plans in protecting our native species.
The new science included in the listing assessments and conservation advices for these species will help us to improve our recovery efforts, further align those efforts with state and territory governments, and ensure we are getting maximum benefits for the concerned species.
More detail on the amended listings can be found in the table below.
| Species name | Location | Recommended decision |
|---|---|---|
| Mammal species | ||
| Pteropus conspicillatus (Spectacled flying-fox) | Qld | Transfer from the Vulnerable Category to the Endangered Category |
| Bettongia gaimardi cuniculus (Eastern Bettong (Tasmania)) | Tas | Determine to be ineligible for listing |
| Dasycercus cristicauda (Crest-tailed Mulgara) | Qld, SA, WA, NT, NSW | Remove from the Vulnerable Category |
| Melomys rubicola (Bramble Cay Melomys) | Qld (Torres Strait) | Transfer from the Endangered Category to the Extinct Category |
| Mesembriomys macrurus (Golden-backed Tree-rat) | WA, NT | Remove from the Vulnerable Category to Not Listed |
| Notamacropus eugenii eugenii (Tammar wallaby (South Australia)) | SA | Remove from the Extinct Category to Not Listed |
| Pseudantechinus mimulus (Carpentarian Antechinus) | Qld, NT | Remove from the Vulnerable Category to Not Listed |
| Vombatus ursinus ursinus (Common wombat (Bass Strait Is)) | Tas | Remove from the Vulnerable Category to Not Listed |
| Zyzomys palatalis (Carpentarian Rock-rat) | NT, Qld | Retain in the Endangered Category |
| Plant species | ||
| Bruguiera hainesii (Haines Orange Mangrove) | Qld | List as Critically Endangered |
| Oberonia attenuata (Mossman Fairy Orchid) | Qld | Retain as Critically Endangered |
