The Director of the Australian Antarctic Division, Dr Tony Fleming, has today announced his retirement. Dr Fleming has been an outstanding Director of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) for the past four years and a long time public servant in the environment. I wish to convey my personal appreciation for his tireless work in leading…
The Government is proud to announce two RAAF World War II aircraft wrecks in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park will be protected under new measures planned to come into effect next month. Special management areas – or buffer zones – will be placed around a Catalina wreck off Bowen and a Catalina that crashed…
The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to host a landmark national summit on threatened species and launch its own strategy for our rare and endangered animals and plants. The Threatened Species Summit will be held at Melbourne Zoo on 16 July 2015. There are more than 1750 mammal, bird, reptile, fish, frog, insect…
The results of the first Emissions Reduction Fund auction released today clearly prove that the Coalition’s climate change policy is delivering real and significant abatement – just as we always said it would. The Clean Energy Regulator has awarded contracts for 47 million tonnes of abatement at an average price per tonne of $13.95. In…
After carefully considering advice from the independent Threatened Species Scientific Committee and submissions from experts, interested organisations and the wider community, I have decided to list the Leadbeater’s possum as a ‘critically endangered’ species. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee’s recommendation was clear and unequivocal regarding the need to transfer the species from endangered to critically…
In commemoration of the Centenary of Anzac, I am pleased to announce that the Australian Government has funded 24 local grants totalling more than $125,000 to groups across the Flinders electorate. Through the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Programme, community groups have had the opportunity to honour the service and sacrifice that epitomises the Anzac spirit.…
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE WITH MR ANDREW NIKOLIC AM CSC MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BASS Dairy farmers in Tasmania’s Tamar estuary and Esk rivers catchment areas are set to benefit from grants of up to $5000 to support their efforts to help clean up the region’s waterways. The funding is part of the Australian Government’s National…
The Green Army will reach another major milestone this week with 54 new projects starting work, bringing the total number of projects underway or completed to 165. We committed to delivering 250 projects on the ground in the first year of the Green Army and we are on track to exceed that target. We are…
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE WITH HON TONY ABBOTT MP, PRIME MINISTER AND HON JULIE BISHOP MP, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Commonwealth Government is inviting submissions on Australia’s next greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for the post-2020 period. We are determined to reduce emissions – but without a carbon tax and without destroying jobs. All countries…
Owners and managers of places on Australia’s National Heritage List are invited to apply for funding to help protect some of Australia’s most significant historic sites. The Australian Government’s Protecting National Historic Sites programme is part of a commitment to provide opportunities to protect and maintain the historic values of places recognised on Australia’s…