This report details the little-known prevalence of nationally listed threatened plants and animals in 99 of Australia’s biggest cities and towns. It also documents how much forest and woodland habitat for these same threatened species has been destroyed between 2000 and 2017 under Australia’s failing national environmental laws.

This report explores the financial gap favouring monoculture exotic forests over biodiverse native forests in New Zealand, and the incentives, policy settings and funding mechanisms required to ‘reset the balance’ by levelling the playing field for native forests.

This interim report suggests that the EPBC Act does not position the Commonwealth to protect the environment and Australia’s iconic places in the national interest. The operation of the Act is dated and inefficient, and it is not fit to manage current or future environmental challenges, particularly in light of climate change.

As the Conservation Regulator enters its second year of operation, the events of the last year have shown us that it is more important than ever we protect our state’s natural environment so we can enjoy it today and protect it for future generations.

This briefing note provides suggestions for investment the New Zealand Government can make as part of an economic stimulus that will enable New Zealand to emerge from this crisis more resilient and with an improved environment.