Protecting our Easter icon for future generations

This Easter the Albanese Labor Government is giving the Greater Bilby a better chance of bouncing back by funding two new projects to help ensure the long-term survival of this iconic species.

Once inhabiting two-thirds of Australia, Bilby populations are now reduced to 15% of our land, largely in Central Australia.

Sadly, the Greater Bilby is listed as vulnerable under environmental law. It is at risk of extinction from habitat loss, predators like feral cats and foxes, and fire.

That’s why we are investing $1 million in two new projects in Queensland and Western Australia to target invasive species like feral cats and foxes, monitor bilby populations, and use traditional burning to reduce the threat of fires.

The Queensland project will support land managers to deliver targeted on-ground feral cat control across more than 3.2 million hectares of western Queensland’s Channel Country.

In Western Australia, the funding will support Warla-Warrarn Indigenous Protected Area rangers to detect populations of bilbies on Martu Country, protect habitat through right-way fire management, and control feral cats and foxes.

The two new projects build on more than $5 million in bilby recovery projects implemented over recent years, and will also support the recovery of other threatened species, including the Night Parrot and the Plains-wanderer.

Last Easter, the Government announced a new Recovery Plan to help the Greater Bilby by guiding the protection and recovery of this iconic species. The Greater Bilby is one of 110 species prioritised for recovery under the Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water the Hon Tanya Plibersek:

“We want to make sure this beloved Easter icon thrives for our kids and grandkids. That means tackling threats like feral cats, which currently threaten over 200 nationally listed threatened species.

“That’s why we’re working with land managers in Queensland and Indigenous rangers in Western Australia who are doing the work on the ground and know how to best protect the Greater Bilby.

“This funding is just one part of our $500 million investment to better protect threatened plants and animals and tackle the feral animals and weeds killing our native species.”