Australia’s ocean and coasts face an extinction crisis – urgent funding is needed to halt the decline of marine life by 2030.
Australia’s breathtaking coastlines, ancient mangrove and kelp forests, sea grass meadows and vibrant coral reefs are home to some of the richest and most diverse marine life on Earth. These ecosystems sustain extraordinary wildlife, support communities and Australia’s way of life.
But many of the species that depend on these places are in decline. Turtles, whales, sharks, sea lions and other marine animals face growing pressure from climate change, habitat loss, unsustainable fishing and pollution. Destruction is outpacing recovery – and our environmental protections aren’t stopping it.
The warning signs are becoming impossible to ignore. Mass coral bleaching has affected our great reefs across northern and western Australia, marine heatwaves are reshaping southern ecosystems, and species such as the Maugean skate face an uncertain future. Emerging threats, including deadly algal blooms and disease outbreaks, add to the growing pressure on the ocean.
Without urgent action, more of Australia’s threatened marine animals could be lost forever.
Yet protection and recovery efforts remain drastically underfunded. Less than 0.1% of the federal budget is currently directed to the protection and recovery of nature. It’s like trying to fight a bushfire with a single bucket of water – completely inadequate for the scale of the crisis.
Dedicating at least 1% of the federal budget to nature would be a game-changing step. It would provide the long-term funding needed to protect threatened species, restore damaged ecosystems and accelerate the recovery of Australia’s ocean and coasts.
Join AMCS in calling on the Australian Government to commit at least 1% of the federal budget to protecting and restoring nature, including ocean and coastal ecosystems.
This is an investment in Australia’s future – one that will safeguard marine life, strengthen the resilience of our coastlines and ensure future generations inherit a healthy, thriving ocean.
1% is a drop in the ocean for the budget but a tidal wave of change for our environment.
Add your name today and demand a future where Australia’s oceans thrive, not just survive. This petition will be delivered to:
- Treasurer Jim Chalmers
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
- Environment Minister Murray Watt
We know that Australians love nature and want to see it protected, with 95% of Australians* wanting to see more spent on protecting nature. But when we meet with politicians in Canberra, they tell us they aren’t hearing that from voters. Let’s change that. Help us by signing the petition now.
* Biodiversity Council 2025 Biodiversity Concerns Report