This analysis reviews Australian Government project approvals in 2025 and notes a substantial rise in bushland cleared for development. The Government approved more than twice the amount of threatened‑species habitat removed in 2024. It outlines key findings and highlights the need for the government to implement the new nature laws and put 'words into action'.

Key findings

• The level of clearing approved in 2025 was higher than in any other year since the analysis began in 2011.
• The northern quoll had more of its habitat approved to be destroyed in 2025 than any other threatened animal.
• Western Australia's Pilbara region is home to all of the ‘top’ five animal species worst affected by approved habitat destruction: the northern quoll, night parrot, ghost bat, Pilbara leaf-nosed bat and Pilbara olive python (in that order).
• A total of 42 plants and animals were added to Australia’s list of species threatened with extinction in 2025.
• The night parrot was moved from ‘endangered’ to ‘critically endangered’ and is second on the list of Australian threatened species worst impacted by federally-approved destruction in 2025.
• 2024 was a record-breaking year for the amount of koala habitat consigned to the bulldozers (just over 3,000ha); 2025 smashes that record, with 4,511ha of koala homes given approval to be destroyed.