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Biodiversity Council welcomes policy commitment of 1 per cent of federal budget for nature

The Biodiversity Council welcomes the policy commitment today from the Australian Greens to invest 1% of the federal budget in nature protection.
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Most store-bought bee hotels are toxic to native bees, here’s how to build your own

4 April 2025
Native bee populations are under threat from land clearing, pesticide use and the impacts of climate change. Bee hotels are a great way of providing essential habitat to these struggling pollinators, but store-bought hotels may not be up to the task.
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What’s in the 2025-26 federal budget for nature?

1 April 2025
The federal budget was released on Tuesday 25 March. We have examined it with a fine-tooth comb to see what it held for nature. Here are some of our insights.
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The PM says the Maguean skate is fine, what does the science say?

25 March 2025
The Prime Minister has argued Maugean skate numbers are the same as they were a decade ago, but that figure is only a small piece of a more complex situation that suggests the future of this species is uncertain.
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Dolphins, giant burrowing frogs and turtle named after Steve Irwin join national threatened species list

12 March 2025
The Australian Government has added 21 more species to our national list of threatened species, bringing the total to 2,055. However, only 5% of nationally threatened species have been prioritised for attention by the Australian Government.
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There are serious economic consequences to abandoning environmental law reform

10 February 2025
The Australian Government has walked away from its Nature Positive Bill due to pressure from the economically powerful WA mining sector, but the decision ignores that our economy is far more than mining.
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Troubled waters: how to stop Australia’s freshwater fish species from going extinct

7 February 2025
More than one-third (37%) of Australia's freshwater fish species are at risk of extinction, including 35 species not even listed as threatened. Funding is urgently needed to address the drivers of native fish declines.
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Mixed turtle hatchling season highlights risks of increasing heat

6 February 2025
Monitoring has revealed that it is a good year for loggerhead turtle hatchlings in Queensland, but things are going badly in WA’s Pilbara region. Research predicts some Pilbara beaches may produce only males in coming decades.
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Make a noise or work with the system? New research reveals 4 ways to create real change for nature

5 February 2025
New research, surveying politicians, senior public servants and environmental advocates, uncovers the most effective ways to influence politicians and government policy when it comes to nature conservation.
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From securing pets to building ‘insect hotels’ – here are 7 ways to attract birds to your garden

21 January 2025
Home gardens can provide vital habitat for Australian birds, but urban environments tend to favour certain species. Here are seven things you can do in your garden to support a wider range of bird species.
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Local councils are tightening cat ownership laws to help protect wildlife and keep your pet safe

3 January 2025
More and more local councils around Australia are making the move to restrict pet cats from roaming around parks and reserves in a bid to protect our native wildlife. Listen to the ABC Radio interview to find out more.
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Acknowledgements

The Biodiversity Council acknowledges the First Peoples of the lands and waters of Australia, and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and future and expresses gratitude for long and ongoing custodianship of Country.

The Biodiversity Council is an independent expert group founded by 11 Australian universities to promote evidence-based solutions to Australia’s biodiversity crisis. It is hosted by The University of Melbourne. It receives funding from 11 university partners and The Ian Potter Foundation, The Ross Trust, Trawalla Foundation, The Rendere Trust, Isaacson Davis Foundation, Coniston Charitable Trust and Angela Whitbread.



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