Today on Threatened Species Day, we recognise the important role of every Australian as a custodian of some of the world's most precious and unique plants and animals.
And we announce more important work being done across the country to help our threatened species recover and thrive.
Nature is facing many challenges in the world today, both here in Australia, and overseas, including climate change, invasive species and disease.
Under the Albanese Government, 274 species and 16 ecological communities threatened with extinction have been protected under national environmental law for the first time.
Since 2022, we have committed over $800 million to protect threatened species and the places they call home, through the Saving Native Species Program, Natural Heritage Trust, National Environmental Science Program and other initiatives.
This funding is in addition to the $270 million invested in H5 bird flu preparedness, which includes measures to restore native habitat, reduce threats to at-risk species, and support citizen science and biosecurity initiatives.
Minister for the Environment, Murray Watt said the Albanese Government was delivering programs that will make a long-term difference.
"We're investing an enormous amount in projects that will make a real difference to a wide range of native species. Healthy habitats and strong populations give wildlife and plants the best chance to withstand the impacts of all kinds of challenges," Minister Watt said.
"We've also seen a number of significant events in recent years which have put additional pressure on some of Australia's most beloved birds, plants and animals, including the Black Summer Bushfires, the algal bloom in South Australia and the arrival of H5 bird flu on our shores."
"We remain committed to long-term environmental recovery, in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups, wildlife experts and local communities."
"We are making good progress towards our target of protecting 30 percent of Australia's land, to preserve vital habitat for our precious species."
"And our national environmental law reforms, passed by the Parliament last November, are already delivering stronger environmental protections, including the creation of the new National Environmental Protection Agency, tougher penalties for those who break environmental law, and new National Environmental Standards."
In the Albanese Government's first term, the Saving Native Species program was created to deliver meaningful outcomes for a range of species across the country.
Guided by the Threatened Species Action Plan, the first phase of the Saving Native Species program has put many priority species on a better trajectory, and in the recent 2026-27 Budget the Government committed another $99.6 million to extend and expand that work.
Over 170 projects across Australia were delivered under Saving Native Species Phase One:
This map provides an indicative representation of the geographic reach of the Saving Native Species Program (2022-2026) across mainland Australia, Tasmania and associated coastal islands. Program activity on external territories and selected remote offshore islands are not shown.
Achievements during the first phase included:
- Establishing a new seagrass restoration nursery to help red handfish in Tasmania.
- Building 10 new fenced exclosures to keep out feral pigs to protect and recover mountain-top nursery frog breeding habitat in Far North Queensland.
- Working with Indigenous ranger teams to increase knowledge about the Tjakura (great desert skink) and protect them from feral cats across Australia's central deserts.
- Restoring rainforest habitat for southern pink underwing moths through bush regeneration in northern NSW and southern Queensland to support carronia vine - the host plant of the moth's caterpillar.
- Installing more than 400 long-lasting nest boxes for Leadbeater's possums in Victoria's central highlands.
This Threatened Species Day, the Albanese Government can unveil the first projects to be funded under Phase Two. The projects will focus on:
- Removing invasive feral pigs and buffalo from the Northern Territory's West Arnhem Land region to protect wetlands, culturally significant landscapes and improve habitat for threatened species.
- Managing pests and weeds in Western Australia's Fitz-Stirling ranges, supporting species like Carnaby's cockatoos.
- Protecting and restoring threatened ecological communities in the eastern forests of Far North Queensland by reducing the extent and spread of invasive weeds like gamba grass, rubber vine, and olive hymenachne.
- Supporting landholders and community members to protect and improve habitat for the giant Gippsland earthworm in Victoria.
- Improving the genetic diversity of the King Island scrubtit in Tasmania that has an estimated population of just 100 individuals.
- Increasing the insurance seed stock of the critically endangered lax leek orchid in South Australia and translocate plants to new wild sites.
Several of these projects will support the resilience of species vulnerable to H5 bird flu, with more projects to be announced soon.
