Sixteen species of freshwater crayfish native to the eastern seaboard that were not previously recognised as threatened are now listed under various stages of peril due to bushfires ravaging their habitats in wet gullies and creeks.
Plibersekdeclared last year that there would be no more extinctions on her watch,but experts have warned that conservation is a fraction of what is required to reverse wildlife losses.
She is releasing recovery plans for the maugean skate,swift parrot,native macadamia and the yirrkoo (water mouse) in the form of government guidelines to protect populations and habitats and reduce threats.
The draft cat management plan also suggests expanding the network of cat-free fenced areas and island havens as well as trialling feral cat shooting programs,increasing use of baiting and exploring options to euthanise cats caught in the wild.
Loading
Roamingpet cats kill 546 million animals a year in Australia,323 million of which are native animals,according to research by the Australian National University conducted for the Biodiversity Council,Invasive Species Council and Birdlife Australia.
Plibersek said without action,native animals stood no chance of survival.
“[Cats] were the primary cause of Australia’s two latest extinctions. And they are one of the main reasons Australia is the mammal extinction capital of the world,” she said.
“I want to see a feral cat-free Australia. If we are serious about protecting our precious threatened species,then we have to tackle one of their biggest killers.
“We are declaring war on feral cats. And... we are setting up our battle plan to win that war,” she said.
The draft plan is open for consultation until December.
Loading
Cat ownership rules vary around the country. In Victoria,councils can order cat owners to keep pets inside during specific hours. Last year,the Australian Capital Territory began a district-wide curfew for cats bought after July 1.
NSW and Western Australia remain the only states that have no restrictions.
In NSW,14 councils – including Hornsby Shire Council,Blue Mountains Council and Wollongong City Council – have supported the introduction of stricter regulation since 2018.
The plan has been welcomed by environmental groups. Professor Sarah Legge,who contributed to the draft plan and is a member of the Biodiversity Council,said feral cats posed one of the greatest threats to Australia’s native wildlife.
Jack Gough,Advocacy Manager for the Invasive Species Council,said the plan would need significant funding and support from all levels of government.
“At a minimum,all state and territory governments should declare feral cats to be pests,support all appropriate control tools and develop their own feral cat plans,” he said.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news,views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weeklyInside Politics newsletter here.