Australia's Environment Ministers have agreed to a range of crucial initiatives, including safeguarding more of the country's land and marine environments for future generations.
Environment Minister Reece Whitby joined other Federal, State and Territory Ministers in Brisbane for their first gathering since the Albanese Government took office.
The Ministers endorsed a landmark commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss across the nation, setting a national target to protect and conserve 30 per cent of Australia's landmass and 30 per cent of marine areas by 2030.
The important target is supported by the McGowan Government's commitment to increasing Western Australia's protected areas under the Plan for Our Parks initiative. Five million hectares of national and marine parks and reserves are being created by 2024, increasing the State's conservation estate by 20 per cent.
The State Government has also demonstrated its commitment to the protection of biodiversity and carbon storage by banning native logging in our South-West forests.
Ministers also supported the national transition from single-use plastics, acknowledging WA's leadership in its Plan for Plastics. This has seen nine items banned in stage one, with more single-use items to be phased out next year. WA's action on single-use plastics will save 430 million items from landfill or litter this year.
Environment Ministers agreed to develop a regulatory product stewardship scheme for solar panels and household e-waste. The initiative follows WA's ban on e-waste disposal to landfill from 2024. The McGowan Government has already committed $10 million towards infrastructure grant funding to grow the State's collection, storage, processing and recycling network capacity. The public and industry will be consulted on implementation soon.
The Ministers also committed to better manage invasive species threatening biodiversity, including advancing technologies for control of feral cats.
WA's on-ground success has been demonstrated in the Return to 1616 project, which has seen Dirk Hartog become the world's largest island where feral cats, sheep and goats have been eradicated. Seven native animal species have been returned to the island to support their long-term survival.
As stated by Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby:
"The McGowan Government is committed to working together with all our Federal, State and Territory colleagues for meaningful change to protect Australia's precious environment.
"In Western Australia, we can be proud that in many ways, we are helping to demonstrate real leadership in reducing our environmental impact and making a real difference.
"It's great to see we have a united approach behind the national leadership of Minister Tanya Plibersek on these critical issues.
"We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to do the best we can for our State and our nation."
