International Year of Biodiversity
Statement
HON ALISON XAMON (East Metropolitan) [5.46 pm]:
I want to make some reflections on the International Year of Biodiversity, which was last year. It was about this time last year that I stood and talked about the International Year of Biodiversity, and my hopes for what attention this could bring to the issue of biodiversity. I would like to remind members that it started with an invitation from the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, to all countries to join together to halt the unsustainable rate of loss of our species and ecosystems. He said at the time that biodiversity is life, and biodiversity is our life. I remind members that this is a particularly important issue for this state, because we have an extraordinary range of ecosystems across our huge and beautiful state, partly because of the sheer diversity of climate we enjoy. The south west corner of Western Australia, from Jurien Bay to Israelite Bay, is one of the world’s 25 biodiversity hot spots. I also remind members that being a biodiversity hot spot is about recognising not just the uniqueness of the ecosystems within that area, but also the level of threat they are under and the amount that has already been lost.
The International Year of Biodiversity was an opportunity for us to really highlight what is happening to species on this planet, and to ensure that we were taking very clear action to preserve what remains of our truly amazing ecosystems. Some good things occurred last year, and I think it is important that they are recognised. I would like to note that, after a decade in limbo, the government finalised Bush Forever, which is an initiative to protect regionally significant bushland within the Perth metropolitan area. It also released the biodiversity and conservation strategy for the Great Western Woodlands, recognising the importance of that vast and low rainfall forest. It also created the Kimberley wilderness parks. These are good things, and I recognise that. However, I would like to say that, unless I missed something, it appeared that there was no concerted effort by the government executive to really celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a catchphrase that is often put into media releases to sound scientific, but I really think it requires significantly more than that. We showed that we are fundamentally not putting the preservation of our biodiverse environment on an equal footing with the many other pressures on our land and water use. The planning policy does not free our Bush Forever sites from the risk of development. Many kinds of infrastructure projects and resource extraction are still being given priority, even in areas that we have identified as being in need of protection. Many Bush Forever sites are without identified managers, are unfenced and suffer from off-road driving activities, people riding trail bikes, rubbish dumping and weeds. These sites are precious, and we really need to make a concerted effort to further protect them because simply zoning them as worthy of protection, unfortunately, on its own, is not enough. I note that the government’s own agencies have determined that although it would be extremely difficult to make the proposed Roe Highway stage 8 extension through Beeliar wetlands environmentally acceptable, it appears that the government is still determined to proceed with that development.
Last year we had our driest winter on record. Combined with the lack of water conservation measures in this state, we have seen a precipitous fall in the water level of the Gnangara mound; it is actually now at its lowest level ever. Perth’s wetlands and some Bush Forever sites are already showing signs of suffering as a result. Therefore, prioritising water conservation measures and, at the very least, tabling the Gnangara sustainability strategy are critically important and would show an understanding that these valuable sites do not simply exist in isolation. These sites are part of the fabric of biodiversity in this state and we cannot adequately protect them by simply drawing them on a map; we need to understand and implement the policies and procedures that will ensure that they are preserved.
I also note that recently the Environmental Protection Authority stated that a mining proposal in the Whicher scarp would not be environmentally acceptable. Amongst other reasons, it was pointed out that the Whicher scarp meets the criteria for consideration of vulnerable status, given that almost the entire forest ecosystem is subject to continuing and significant threatening processes from current or pending mineral tenements. Certainly, the Greens are very concerned about that. This threat is not limited to the Whicher scarp; it is a threat that in effect is extended to pretty much most of the state.
We have a unique internationally recognised biodiversity hot spot in our South West, yet we have mining tenements all over it. Therefore, serious thought needs to be put into this because some very serious tensions are at play. Questions need to be asked about whether we need to reduce the number of tenements, particularly those over extraordinarily biodiverse areas. We need to make it very clear that mining cannot occur in these areas; we do not want to have a conversation about it. Frankly, mining is not an appropriate use of this very precious and biodiverse land. Everyone in this place saw the united and loud vocal opposition to coalmining in Margaret River. There were a number of reasons for that. Obviously, a coalmine threatened the water supply, local industry and natural values that I have talked about. However, the sheer level of biodiversity is another significant reason that a coalmine in Margaret River would be an utterly inappropriate development.
I think that we did not make the most of what we could have with the International Year of Biodiversity. As I mentioned, some positive things happened, but our biodiverse state is still under enormous threat and we need to do more to deal with that.
For the benefit of members who do not know, 2011 is the United Nations’ International Year of Forests. I would like to point out that the jarrah forest on our scarp and throughout the South West is also unique. We do not even know all the species of microflora, microfauna and fungi that are present, and these, too, have huge swathes of mining tenements currently proposed all over them. I put the challenge out that we do a better job in the International Year of Forests than we did in the International Year of Biodiversity. I for one will be watching with interest to see how the government rises to the challenge and, perhaps, focuses some attention on this issue.
Closer to home, people will be aware of my very keen interest in ensuring that the beautiful forests around Jarrahdale are given every protection. That would be a great start. I would like people to think about the fact that this year is the International Year of Forests. Would it not be wonderful if in this state we could do something quite concerted for that?
The PRESIDENT: I am aware that as well as Hon Kate Doust, both Hon Helen Morton and Hon Sally Talbot want to make contributions but we cannot fit everybody in. Because both Hon Helen Morton and Hon Sally Talbot have spoken in the last fortnight, I will give the call to Hon Kate Doust for the last five minutes.