CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Fighting for nature law reform – a renewed call to action
This year, we believed, marked a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Australia’s nature laws – laws that, by universal acknowledgement, are failing to protect the nature and places we love.
And we came so close.
In the past two weeks, intensive negotiations unfolded between the government and cross bench Senators, edging us towards much-needed improvements to the Nature Positive legislation currently before the Senate. According to widespread media reporting, a deal was within our grasp. Yet, despite broad agreement, vested interests—fuelled by fossil fuel and mining lobbyists and bolstered by the intervention of the WA Premier—derailed progress. Ultimately, the Prime Minister backtracked, leaving nature, and the oceans, as the greatest casualties of this lost opportunity.
One emblematic victim of this failure is the Maugean skate, a species on the brink of extinction. This relic of ancient oceans has become a powerful symbol of the stakes we face.
But let me be clear: the fight is far from over. The current parliamentary term still offers a chance to pass this vital legislation and sustain the momentum needed to secure comprehensive environmental reforms. And we will not give up.
The public is with us. Recent polling in WA reveals that while powerful industries fight against these reforms, everyday Australians recognise the urgency of strong nature laws to halt extinctions and protect the habitats that make our wildlife so unique.
This year, almost 30,000 of you added your voice by signing our petition for stronger nature laws. That’s 30,000 votes of confidence in a future where Australia prioritises life over profit, preservation over destruction. The Maugean skate—and countless other species—are counting on us to keep going.
As we look to 2025 and beyond, our mission is clear. We will continue to pressure the government to strengthen and implement laws that protect and restore Australia’s natural world. These laws must address the urgent threats posed by habitat destruction and climate change, offering hope to species and ecosystems on the brink.
Nature needs strong laws—and it needs us to be unwavering. The road ahead remains challenging, but every step we take brings us closer to a future where Australia’s oceans, forests, and wildlife thrive. Together, we can ensure that these critical reforms are not just a possibility but a reality.
Thank you for standing with us. Let’s make 2025 the year we turn the tide for nature.
Image: Juvenile Maugean skate – Jane-Rucker/IMAS