The national laws intended to protect nature are failing. This report takes stock of the state of animals, plants and habitats threatened with extinction in Australia in 2024. It presents key findings, identifies the 10 worst impacted species and calls for an overhaul of the national nature laws. Critical to this, is an independent and well-resourced regulator or environmental protection agency.

Findings

• The Australian Government approved the destruction of more than 25,000 hectares of threatened species habitat.
• 2,751 hectares of habitat for ‘critically endangered’ species was approved to be destroyed, affecting 17 critically endangered species and ecosystems.
• 42 more species and ecosystems were added to the threatened species list and a further 14 were moved to a category closer to extinction.
• 100% of assessment decisions about fossil fuel projects were approvals.