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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Submission to the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework
28 February 2025
The Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework represents a unique opportunity to support a transition to biodiverse agricultural systems. We present key points and recommendations relating to the AASF consultation paper.
Submission to the Victorian Government on managing the biodiversity impacts of renewable energy
19 February 2025
Victoria’s proposed approach for managing the biodiversity impacts of renewable energy (including a draft Handbook and Discussion Paper) is not a significant improvement from the current approach and is unlikely to deliver "no net loss".
Submission to South Australia’s Draft Biodiversity Bill
18 February 2025
The creation of South Australia’s Draft Biodiversity Bill is a critical step in the state's conservation and restoration of biodiversity. We support many aspects of the bill and have also identified opportunities to improve parts of it.
Submission to the inquiry into the management of cat populations in New South Wales
22 November 2024
We advocate for the introduction of cat containment laws, and other programs that enable the protection of wildlife from roaming pet cats, in our submission to the NSW cat inquiry.
Submission to South-east Marine Parks Network Draft Management Plan
14 November 2024
We support the creation of 11 new sanctuaries across 10 marine parks, but are concerned that commercial fishing has been prioritised over biodiversity protection in some parks.
Submission to Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve proposed proclamation and proposal to prepare a draft management plan
10 October 2024
The Biodiversity Council is concerned that the proclamation and management plan will not substantially improve levels of protection for marine biodiversity around Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
The Biodiversity Council is concerned that the draft Sustainable Oceans Plan has critical gaps and would likely fail in achieving its stated national vision for a sustainable ocean economy.
Our submission on the Performance Framework for Queensland's Biodiversity Strategy
11 September 2024
The Queensland Government have developed a framework to support the implementation of their statewide biodiversity strategy. Our submission outlines two key concerns about the framework.
Submission to the Offshore wind industry consultation process
6 September 2024
Regarding the inquiry into the offshore wind industry consultation process, we suggest opportunities to improve outcomes for biodiversity and reduce conflicts between renewable energy project proposals and stakeholders.
The Biodiversity Council views the existing national forest policy architecture as failing to protect biodiversity. Read the submission for more details.
