Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment. In June 2019 the minister announced protecting native species was an immediate priority. Why is it then that almost 18 months later 170 out of 171 outstanding threatened species recovery plans, including for the koala, are still overdue? Why does the government never deliver on its announcements?

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Macarthur for his question and thank him for his interest in threatened species, because it's an interest that the government shares and is committed to addressing. I know that members opposite raised the issue of recovery plans, and they're an important part of the conservation approach we take to threatened species generally, because 95 per cent of all listed species have conservation advices. But I also want to make the point that, while the Labor Party focuses on a document, a name, a plan—and those plans exist—we focus on a range of activities, including our safe havens, our work with feral invasive species, our $200 million expenditure post the bushfires—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, on relevance. The question went to the minister's own announcement that there'd be 171 threatened species recovery plans as an immediate priority, and one has been delivered—one, after 18 months.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has the call. I think she's still—

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The threatened species recovery plans are part of the work of my department. They are on the way, and they are ongoing. What I focus on is the outcomes when it comes to the conservation of species and when it comes to protecting their habitat against bushfires, against drought, against climate change and against the most awful thing, which is pests, weeds and invasive species. If you look at our work post-bushfires you will see how our expert panel, our Threatened Species Scientific Committee and our national Threatened Species Commissioner are all addressing this very important work.