Bushfires and Threatened Species - Question Without Notice
Ms CATE FAEHRMANN (16:15:07): My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Energy and Environment, the Hon. Don Harwin.
Given that 37 per cent of our national parks estate has been burnt this unprecedented bushfire season, along with many threatened species in their habitat, what immediate additional funding and resources is the Government providing to protect more threatened species habitat, including by restoring and expanding our national parks, as more frequent and extreme whether events like this one driven by climate change push many of our most precious native species, including the koala, platypus and brush-tailed rock wallaby, to the brink of extinction?
The Hon. DON HARWIN (Special Minister of State, Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts, and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (16:15:53): The honourable member asks a number of very good questions that require detailed responses. I am certainly well aware of the effect of the fires on those areas. The office of Heritage is preparing advice for me on matters such as the extensive damage to the Blue Mountains world heritage area, and of course the Gondwana Rainforests in northern New South Wales, which are both on the State Heritage Register.