{"id":31892,"date":"2025-03-18T02:31:16","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T02:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=31892"},"modified":"2025-03-18T02:31:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T02:31:16","slug":"native-species-headed-to-extinction-due-to-albanese-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/03\/18\/native-species-headed-to-extinction-due-to-albanese-government\/","title":{"rendered":"Native Species Headed to Extinction due to Albanese Government"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The ACT Greens have called on Labor Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek to revoke the Canberra Airport\u2019s approval to build a 35 metre wide road which will bisect the habitat of critically endangered species and push the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon further into extinction.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens Jo Clay said that despite the community\u2019s best efforts, the Northern Road development at the Canberra Airport precinct will likely see one of the last three remaining dragon populations perish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLabor talks a big game to protect the environment with promises of no new extinctions under their watch. But when action is needed, they simply sit back, fold to developers and put our species and ecosystems at risk of extinction,\u201d Ms Clay said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis road is not needed – I understand its main function is to serve as a private, VIP road for people like Dutton and Albo. It\u2019s another example of Labor being more connected to the needs of developers and big corporations than everyday people and our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAcross Australia there are very few patches of Natural Temperate Grassland the size of the area that the Northern Road will bisect. This road will fragment the population and could make one of our last three dragon populations extinct. How much more destruction must there be until Labor says enough is enough?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, the former ACT Greens Environment Minister and community secured a commitment from Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reconsider protections for the earless dragon before this road progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere has been no transparency or explanation from the Minister on why this work was allowed to commence. This site is critical for the dragon and other threatened species. She committed to no new extinctions but she is watching another happen all over again,\u201d said Isabel Mudford, Greens candidate for Canberra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTanya Plibersek must halt this project before the Federal caretaker period commences – otherwise we will see another species become extinct under hers and the Albanese Government\u2019s watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dOur national environmental laws have been failing for years – Labor have thrown in the towel this term to fundamentally reform our systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith Greens in the balance of power we can deliver environmental laws that prevent destructive developments like this one, and hold corporations to account for the damage they cause,\u201d said Ms Mudford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n