Labor risks failing extinction promise with ‘disappointing’ environment budget, advocates warn

Labor risks failing to deliver on its pledge to ensure no more native species go extinct under its watch if environmental funding is not increased, a leading advocate has warned.

Key environmental management initiatives such as the Native Species Conservation Program (renamed Protecting Australia’s Native Species) avoided the funding cliff on Tuesday as Finance Minister Jim Chalmers handed over the 2026-27 federal budget.

However, the program was only extended for two years despite being offered a $100 million “lifeline”. Funding is also expected to decrease by approximately $20 million per year.

Jack Gough, chief executive of the Invasive Species Council, said the lack of funding and “lack of ambition” was disappointing and the government’s timeframes showed a “fundamental misunderstanding of how biology works”.

“Invasive species don’t care about budget cycles,” he said.

“They don’t care about wars and fuel crises. If you don’t work to control them, they will continue to breed.”

Mr Gough warned that less work on the land meant more invasive species such as deer were “trampling, trampling and polluting” Australia’s nature.

“It means the spread of wild animals and weeds into new areas, it means the innovation agenda that can come up with some game-changing options to prevent invasive species from taking over ecosystems, overwhelming ecosystems, and stopping some of that work,” he said.

“This means a workforce shutdown and ultimately a huge loss for wildlife and a huge loss for taxpayers because it will mean bigger costs in the long run.”

Mr Gough said in the long term, the government would not be able to meet its commitment to halt the extinction of native species and protect 30 per cent of Australia’s land and oceans by 2030 unless core funding is increased.

“If they want to maintain their commitment to preventing new extinctions, then they need to put the money into studies on the ground to make that happen,” he said.

“Let’s be clear, this is a drop in the ocean compared to the budget, but it is viewed by the current government as a nice-to-have rather than a core government function, and that is disappointing.”

The Saving Native Species Program funds measures to combat a range of pests, including the yellow crazy ant in Queensland, the highly flammable gamba weed in the Northern Territory and feral cats on Kangaroo Island.

Many other measures are funded in the 2026-26 budget, including a one-year investment of $11.2 million for greater H5 bird flu preparedness and resilience.

More funds will go towards the Albanian government’s environmental planning reforms, including marine protection as well as the establishment of a national environmental protection agency.

A government spokesman said the project was “focused on protecting and restoring Australia’s spectacular natural environment”.

“Since coming to government in 2022, we have delivered significant and targeted work to build real momentum to reduce and reverse environmental degradation and help protect more of Australia’s unique species, places and waterways,” the spokesperson said.

“Guided by the Threatened Species Action Plan, we have invested more than $700 million to directly increase outcomes for threatened species and ecological communities.

“In this year’s budget, environmental spending increased by $1 billion over the four years from 2026-27 to 2029-30 to $9.9 billion.

“It provides more than $110 million to expand the Saving Native Species program and continue H5 bird flu preparedness efforts, helping to protect many of Australia’s most vulnerable animals and plants and protecting and recovering our biodiverse natural landscapes.

“The budget also locks in $500 million to implement our historic national environmental law reforms, including $250 million to establish Australia’s first National Environmental Protection Agency, which will be a strong, independent regulator with a clear focus on ensuring better compliance with and enforcement of our strengthened environmental laws.”

World Wildlife Fund-Australia chief regenerative officer Nicole Forrester said there were “welcome steps” including funding from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“But this (budget) was also a missed opportunity to invest in the oceans, forests and wildlife that are foundational to our nation’s identity and prosperity,” he said.

“Nature is vital to our economy, food systems and well-being, but it receives only a fraction of the funding it needs. At the same time, the Australian government allocates billions of dollars in subsidies for nature-damaging activities.

“We cannot continue to take nature for granted. Across Australia, species are disappearing and forests are being destroyed at alarming rates.”

Ms Forrester said the situation could turn around, but it would “require a dramatic increase in investment”.

“This government has made welcome commitments to prevent new extinctions and protect at least 30 per cent of Australia’s land and oceans by 2030. But achieving these targets will require significant, long-term funding,” he said.

“If we are serious about reversing biodiversity loss and meeting our commitments, we need to invest at least 1 percent of our budget in nature.

“This funding will support coordinated species recovery, landscape restoration, invasive species management, Indigenous-led conservation, and new protected areas.

“Investing in nature will not only protect Australia’s wildlife and wild places, but will also stimulate economic growth and job creation, creating long-term prosperity.

“It’s time for our federal budget to put nature where it belongs: at the heart of our economy.”