Politicians prioritize finances and jobs, and yet in ignoring nature, risk it all

The electioneering has begun. In a campaign set to be dominated by economic issues, the Coalition and Labor are locking horns over who can best manage our finances, protect jobs and make housing more affordable. The Greens predictably decry the major parties, including their cavalier climate-change policies.

These are important issues, but are they highest priority on the political agenda? An arguably even greater issue exists that nobody is seriously championing, but which impacts all of us, socially, environmentally and economically.

Our natural heritage – the plants, animals and other organisms that help define Australia’s identity – are in dire straits. Yet this biodiversity crisis is barely mentioned in political discourse, nor is it foremost in the public consciousness.

Read the thoughts of the Professor in Terrestrial Ecology at Deakin University, Don Driscoll and a Senior Lecturer in Ecology at the Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University, Euan Ritchie on The Conversation - “Nature is neglected in this election campaign – at its and our own peril.”