Ocean Agenda 2025
Australian Federal Election 2025: Our fragile oceans need fearless leaders
Australia’s oceans, among the most biodiverse on the planet, face unprecedented threats, from habitat loss and pollution to overfishing, industrialisation and the accelerating impacts of climate change. We want the next Australian Government to take bold, decisive steps to safeguard the lifeblood of our planet.
As a strictly non-partisan organisation, AMCS has written to all political parties and key independent MPs, setting out the priorities the next Australian Government must deliver on. These priorities are summarised below.
Together, we must make sure leaders will act to protect our coasts, oceans and marine life, because no matter who is in power, our oceans are for everyone.
Here’s How You Can Take Action
Click the tiles on the map below:
Ocean Agenda 2025: A call for bold leadership to protect our oceans, our climate, our future
Our oceans are in trouble and the time for action is now. The Australian Marine Conservation Society is calling on all political parties to commit to bold action to protect marine life and coastal communities:
1. Stop extinctions – protect and restore marine life
- Introduce and enact strong nature laws to prevent species loss and restore marine habitats.
- Reduce plastic pollution by introducing and enforcing strong packaging laws.
- Reform fisheries to stop overfishing and protect threatened species.
2. Safeguard unique ocean ecosystems
- Strengthen protections for the Great Barrier Reef from pollution and climate threats.
- Expand and improve marine protected areas to safeguard marine biodiversity.
- Prevent industrial developments that threaten Exmouth Gulf, Ningaloo.
- Reject proposal to drill for fossil fuels around Scott Reef, Western Australia.
3. Act on climate and stop fossil fuel expansion
- Set strong climate policies aligned with limiting warming to 1.5°C.
- No approval of new fossil fuel projects, including offshore seismic blasting, drilling and carbon dumping.
4. Invest in the future – fund nature protection and restoration
- Invest 1% of the budget in the protection and recovery of Australia’s wildlife and habitats.
- End subsidies and R&D funding for offshore fossil fuels
- Invest in ensuring the renewable energy transition protects ocean nature.
- Greater investment, transparency and accountability in reducing water pollution in the Great Barrier Reef.
5. Lead in global ocean conservation
- Lead international action to implement new marine protected areas in international waters, and protect the Antarctic.
- Drive international ambition for a strong Global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution.
- Strengthen rules on imported seafood to stop illegal and unethical fishing.
- Exclude from domestic waters and support a global moratorium on deep-sea mining.
- Champion whale conservation at the International Whaling Commission.
You can download the Ocean Agenda 2025 flyer here.
For more details about these policy recommendations for the 2025 Federal Election, please read the AMCS Ocean Agenda 2025: A call for bold leadership to protect our oceans, our climate, our future.
Authorised by Paul Gamblin, South Brisbane, QLD 4101