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Sky News AU
a day ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doubles down on renewables and net zero in National Press Club address
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will reaffirm his commitment to renewable energy and net zero targets in his National Press Club address on Tuesday. Mr Albanese will deliver his first speech to the press club after being re-elected as Prime Minister of the 48th Parliament of Australia at around 12.30pm. He has outlined his agenda—focusing on housing, healthcare, education, cost of living relief and renewable energy—in an excerpt of his speech provided to Sky News. will stream Mr Albanese's National Press Club address live at 12.30pm AEST. Mr Albanese will say the path to net zero must be grounded in delivery, not ideology, and stress the importance of seizing the economic opportunity of the global shift to clean energy. He has described his vision of the future, 'where we realise our potential as a renewable energy superpower'. 'We are working to meet the environmental challenges of climate change and seize the economic opportunities of renewable energy,' Mr Albanese will say. 'We have legislated our 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and our commitment to Net Zero by 2050. 'We are delivering our energy policy – renewables, backed by gas, batteries and hydro.' The comments come as political pressure mounts over the mounting cost of the government's climate policy. New analysis from the Institute of Public Affairs revealed that annual federal spending on climate and net zero programs has soared to about $9 billion. IPA deputy executive director Adam Creighton described the scale of climate-related spending as 'ridiculous'. 'Decades of poor decision making, based on flawed and misleading advice and ideology, is crushing… household budgets,' he said. Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeatedly argued that renewables remain the 'cheapest and cleanest' source of power. The Australian Energy Regulator's default market offer has risen by up to 50 per cent in parts of the country since 2022. Neither Mr Bowen nor Mr Albanese have conceded their 2022 election promise to lower household power bills by $275 has not been met. The government's clean energy transition has also drawn criticism from the Greens following its decision to approve the extension of the North West Shelf gas project. 'You can't have renewables unless you have firming capacity. You don't change a transition through warm thoughts,' Mr Albanese said of the decision. The extension of the gas project was made under the existing Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The EPBC does not require consideration of a project's climate impact. Despite long-flagged reforms to the EPBC Act, Sky News understands the government has decided not to include a climate trigger as part of the update, rejecting calls from the Greens. Greens leader Larissa Waters slammed the gas approval, saying it 'totally undermines the government's commitment to net zero by 2050'. Despite criticism from activists, Mr Albanese maintained the transition must be done responsibly and with a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges ahead. 'Our government's vision and ambition for Australia's future was never dependent on the size of our majority,' he will say in his Press Club speech. 'But you can only build for that future vision if you build confidence that you can deliver on urgent necessities.' He said Australia's mix of natural resources, a skilled workforce and geopolitical stability made it the best place in the world to lead the net zero transition. 'When you consider the resources and energy and technology that a world moving to Net Zero needs… there is nowhere else you would rather be than right here in Australia,' he said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Shoppers 'genuinely shocked' by side effect of Coles, Bunnings, Woolworths, Mitre 10 product
For years, Coles, Woolworths, Bunnings, Mitre 10, and other major retailers have been knowingly and legally selling a poison to consumers with a deadly side effect. It's quietly killing off Australia's native animals. Now Yahoo News can reveal more than 280 vets, doctors, farmers, scientists, and conservationists have signed an open letter calling on the nation's chemical regulator to ban merchants from selling this 'highly-toxic' form of rat bait to consumers. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are openly sold on the same shelves as less harmful first-generation poisons, traps and natural baits. Although there are warnings on packets, unless shoppers delve into the fine print, they're unlikely to be able to tell the difference, and experts believe only professionals should be able to use these products because they're so dangerous. The letter has been sent from BirdLife Australia to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) as it is conducting a review of SGARs. It notes the United States, Canada, and the European Union have all introduced 'significant restrictions' to reduce the risk of 'unintended harm' caused by these products. 'Australia is lagging behind, allowing the continued use of SGARs in a way that is putting our wildlife and pets at risk,' it warns, dubbing it a 'crisis' that needs 'immediate intervention'. BirdLife Australia's Dr Holly Parsons told Yahoo News SGARs have a commercial purpose, however most consumers are 'genuinely shocked' that these baits are sold in supermarkets and hardware stores for home use when they can harm owls, native mammals, and even pets. 'There's a perception that because you can buy it on the shelf it's safe to use, and if you use it in accordance with the directions there's not going to be a problem. But that's not the case,' she said. Related: 😳 Bunnings workers struggle to spot deadly product on shelf SGARs were developed in the 1980s to combat growing resistance by rats to first-generation rodenticides. But these new poisons don't break down quickly in the environment, meaning each time a non-target animal eats a rat or mouse, they will accumulate more poison in their body. Sometimes the poisons will directly kill animals by making them slowly bleed out. But often they make non-target species so sick they get hit by cars or become unable to hunt. It's long been known that predatory birds like owls and tawny frogmouths frequently succumb to SGARs. Sadly, it's unpaid wildlife carers and volunteer vets who are left to mop up the problem when Aussies find sick and dying birds in their yards. In February, new research revealed native mammals like Tasmanian devils and quolls that are already threatened with extinction could be tipped over the edge by these chemicals. The signatories to the letter warn the problem is so serious that SGARs will soon be nominated as a Key Threatening Process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – Commonwealth legislation designed to safeguard endangered species. This would place SGARs alongside other major threats to the survival, abundance, or evolutionary development of native species, with other examples including feral animals, land clearing and chytrid fungus, which has directly caused the extinction of seven frog species in Australia. 'This issue is critical, and the urgency cannot be overstated. The ongoing use of SGARs presents a severe and immediate threat to Australia's wildlife and pets,' the letter says. Parsons told Yahoo the problem is continuing to 'grow deeper' the more we research it and that APVMA needed to act. 'More and more, we're understanding these products are getting out further than we ever expected them to. Many people probably don't realise that their backyard is part of the local environment, and so the impact of what they do inside their home is going to have ramifications for the wildlife around them,' she said. 📸 Beach find highlights dark side of Queensland's $88 million tourism pledge Dangerous discovery made 30cm under Western Australian garden 🌏 Alarming map highlights growing threats to $3.8 billion industry In 2023, pressure on Bunnings to stop selling animal glue traps proved effective, with the retailer confirming they would phase them out. These products had been linked to wildlife harm, and in this case Bunnings acted without being forced to by new regulations. Some campaigners had also hoped the retailer would withdraw SGARs from consumer sale without the need for the government to intervene. Yahoo visited Bunnings and Coles stores and saw SGARs on shelves beside less harmful products. And while this may be confusing for some consumers, the retailers are complying with all current legal guidelines with their displays. Active ingredients in SGARs-based products include brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, difenacoum, and flocoumafen. An update on their use by the APVMA is expected this year. Birdlife Australia's 281 signatories include biodiversity expert Professor Martine Maron, environmental scientist Professor Raylene Cooke, former Queensland chief scientist Professor Hugh Possingham, and molecular scientist Associate Professor Bill Bateman. They are calling for the following seven changes: SGARs to be withdrawn from public sale and their use restricted to licensed professionals. A ban on their use outside of buildings. Promotion of alternatives like electronic traps and non-anticoagulant options. Develop new management strategies that prioritise non-chemical alternatives. Mandate the monitoring of SGAR impacts on wildlife. Establish buffer zones around ecologically sensitive areas. Develop a threat abatement plan to address rodenticide contamination in the environment. Coles was contacted for comment, but it did not immediately respond. Metcash's Independent Hardware Group (IHG), which supplies Mitre 10 stores with products including SGARs, told Yahoo News it "will comply" with any directives legislated by the APVMA. "In the interim, we are working with suppliers to produce educational materials for members and consumers around the use of alternative products," it said in a statement. "While we cannot compel independent Mitre 10 stores to display signage, it will be strongly encouraged. We are also in the process of extending our range of natural, pallet-based throw packs that are non-toxic to birds and other wildlife." Bunnings said it had worked with the APVMA and suppliers to update packaging to "clearly display" on the front when SGARs are present, and introduced QR codes in rodent control aisles so customers can learn more about products. "The rodenticide products we sell are in line with guidance from the Federal regulator, the APVMA, and we will continue to follow its advice in this area. This includes any requirements confirmed by the APVMA when the Anticoagulant Rodenticides Chemical Review is finalised," a spokesperson said. Bunnings added that it was providing "choice" for consumers, and that included both rodenticides and non-poisonous alternatives to help customers achieve the "best solution to their specific rodent problem". Woolworths said the products are "important" for people who have issues with rats or mice, particularly in rural areas. It also sells them in metropolitan and suburban stores. "We also sell a number of alternative options including ultrasonic repellents, traps and rodenticides without second-generation anticoagulants," it said. "As always, we encourage our customers to follow the instructions outlined on these products, which include clear labels and warnings about safe use, storage and disposal." You can read the full BirdLife Australia letter here. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Where Labor and the Coalition stand on nature and environment policies this federal election
One face you may not have seen this election belongs to the Irwin's turtle ( Elseya irwini ). The freshwater snapping turtle, named after zookeeper and wildlife documentarian Steve Irwin and his dad Bob, was one of 23 additions to the national threatened species list this year. With one of the highest rates of extinction in the world and more than 7.7 million hectares of threatened species habitat destroyed since 2000, Australia is considered by many to be in a biodiversity crisis. So what are political parties offering when it comes to our nature laws? What happened to Labor's 'nature positive' plan? Labor has increased funding to national parks and threatened species during its time in power. The party's biggest new commitment this election has been $250 million to put 30 per cent of Australian land into some sort of protected reserve by 2030. The Labor government also used its 2024–25 budget to allocate $96.6 million over four years towards speeding up environmental approvals related to critical minerals projects and renewable energy generation and transmission. But there has been little electioneering around Labor's "nature positive" plan that was revealed last term. That was Labor's policy to change several environment-related laws to ensure threatened species and their habitat were not lost. Australia's central piece of nature legislation is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The Act is supposed to protect ecosystems, native species and cultural heritage. It also enables a key regulatory process for would-be developers that might harm these values. The scathing 2020 Samuel's review of the EPBC Act, commissioned by the previous Liberal government, found it was not effective in protecting the environment, which had, overall, declined and was under increasing threat. When Labor took power, it took a staged approach to addressing some of the review's recommendations but reform has since stalled, with neither the Coalition nor Greens backing it. Federal election live updates: Get the latest news from the campaign trail Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC Listen Will there be an environment watchdog? One of the key hurdles for Labor's nature reforms has been legislation to make an independent Environment Protection Authority (EPA) that could decide the outcome of major developments and police compliance. An EPA has been a Labor commitment since 2019, but there are concerns in the resources industry that it would create more paperwork. The Coalition is also against the formation of an EPA which it claims would drive up housing and energy costs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reportedly shut down negotiations to get an EPA through the senate where Labor lacks the numbers to pass laws itself. But he said in March Labor would still pursue the creation of the watchdog post-election using a different model. "What we'll do is work it through, we'll consult widely, make sure that we get it right and that is what we will legislate," Mr Albanese said. "Something that provides certainty for industry and the way that processes occur, but also provides for sustainability. That's what we're after." Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson says the resources industry wants better outcomes for the environment but bureaucratic double-ups on approvals must be fixed. ( ABC News: Jack Stevenson ) Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson said her organisation, which represents major resource companies, questioned the need for a federal EPA in WA when a state-based version already existed. "The resources sector has long advocated that future environmental reforms be grounded in genuine consultation to ensure outcomes that deliver for both the environment and for business," she said. "The aim must be to protect Australia's environment while removing duplication, providing a higher degree of process certainty for proponents and speeding up project assessments." Labor's nature positive plan had included a mechanism for state and territory governments to be accredited to make decisions on national environmental approvals. Reform is still on the agenda and a government taskforce has continued to work on legislative proposals. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says Labor still wants nature reform. ( ABC News: Luke Stephenson ) Environment Minster Tanya Plibersek told ABC News Weekend Breakfast last month Labor still wanted to see stronger environmental laws. "They're not fit for purpose, they don't protect the environment, they're not good for business," she said. "We know we need to reform them, but it's going to take commonsense and compromise, and that means the Greens can't hold out for everything they want, and the Liberals and the Nationals will have to agree to better protect our environment." Coalition's nature approach Many of the Coalition's commitments around environment law reform focus on cutting "green tape" for industry. Opposition leader Peter Dutton told a mining conference last year that a Coalition government would "unequivocally and unashamedly champion our mining and resource sectors". Peter Dutton's policies as opposition leader have been geared around speeding up development. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) The Coalition also wants to speed up housing development environmental approvals. Both promises would be met through a range of measures including: halving environmental approval times for projects halving environmental approval times for projects introducing a "national interest" test to give greater consideration to economic and social interests in environmental approval decisions introducing a "national interest" test to give greater consideration to economic and social interests in environmental approval decisions accrediting state and territory governments processes for national environmental approvals accrediting state and territory governments processes for national environmental approvals restricting use of the "stop the clock" provision, which is where the government halts an environmental assessment as it seeks more information restricting use of the "stop the clock" provision, which is where the government halts an environmental assessment as it seeks more information finalising environmental applications for housing developments within 12 months finalising environmental applications for housing developments within 12 months "simplifying" environmental assessment processes "simplifying" environmental assessment processes "clarifying" rules for project offsets (schemes where you create a nature covenant or give the government land with habitat similar to what you plan to remove). Mr Dutton has also promised to defund the Environmental Defender's Office (EDO), a not-for-profit community legal office, after he accused the organisation of using taxpayer funds to wage "lawfare" to impede resource projects. The EDO was reprimanded by a federal court judge last year for coaching a witness while representing traditional owners from the Tiwi Islands against a gas development by Santos. Mr Dutton wants to end the $8.2 million grant agreement between the EDO and the federal government before it expires in 2026. A review by the federal government last year found the EDO had not breached the conditions of its grant. Another promise by Mr Dutton to fast-track an approval decision on the North West Shelf extension gas project, within 30 days of being elected, could leave a Coalition-led government open to a future legal challenge. James Trezise from the Biodiversity Council says the Coalition policies do little for the environment. ( ABC News: Claire Moodie ) Biodiversity Council director James Trezise was critical of the Coalition's environment policies, and said there was nothing on offer that would meaningfully benefit Australia's biodiversity. "In simple terms, their agenda is entirely geared towards fast-tracking development, seemingly irrespective of its potential environmental impact," he said. "There have also been no commitments to investing in recovering our iconic threatened species or protecting Australia's unique ecosystems, which is critical if we are to stem the loss of wildlife across the country." Shadow environment minister Jonathon Duniam said an environmental law overhaul was the portfolio's foremost priority. "The uncertainty from the secret consultations with select groups has alienated environmental stakeholders and industries, and set the path of reform backwards, not forwards," he told the ABC. "The Coalition will continue our considered approach to reform that we took in government to get the balance right between the need to have a functioning economy and our ability to protect our environment." What might happen in a hung parliament? With tight polling between the major parties, there is a possibility of a hung parliament this election. That's where no single party has a majority of seats in the lower house, which means they need support from cross-benchers or the opposition to pass laws. Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverage If this happened, the ruling party might need support in not just the lower house but the Senate too, meaning they will need to negotiate what's in legislation. Independent politicians have previously supported nature positive reform. In April last year, independent politicians Zali Steggall, Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniel, Helen Haines, Kylea Tink, Monique Ryan, Sophie Scamps, Allegra Spender, and Andrew Wilkie all asked Labor to pass a complete package of reforms in response to the Samuel review. The Greens also put forward a wishlist of environment policies the party would take to the negotiating table if its numbers in the lower house and senate are needed to legislate: invest 1 per cent of federal budget into protecting and restoring nature invest 1 per cent of federal budget into protecting and restoring nature provide $20 billion for biodiversity restoration over 10 years provide $20 billion for biodiversity restoration over 10 years create a $5 billion protected areas fund create a $5 billion protected areas fund establish a land and sea country commissioner as an independent First Nations voice establish a land and sea country commissioner as an independent First Nations voice introduce a climate trigger that could stop fossil fuel projects getting environmental approval introduce a climate trigger that could stop fossil fuel projects getting environmental approval end forest logging end forest logging moratorium on koala habitat clearing moratorium on koala habitat clearing mirror climate disclosures by business with a mandatory nature risk disclosure. The Biodiversity Council, formed by 11 Australian universities to provide expert advice on biodiversity issues, has graded the major parties' policies and given the Greens top marks. Former Queensland chief scientist and Biodiversity Council co-chair Hugh Possingham said Labor's nature policies were "minimal" and the Coalition's were a "failure". In contrast, Professor Possingham said The Greens' policies, if enacted through a balance of power, could have meaningful improvements for Australia's environment. Biodiversity Council grades
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Greens promise to force government to spend 1% of budget on environment if they hold balance of power
The Greens have promised to push the government to boost environment spending to $7.8bn – 1% of the federal budget – next financial year if they hold the balance of power after the election. The minor party made the pledge as Labor faced calls to explain its nature policy after Anthony Albanese promised he would establish a federal environment protection agency (EPA) if re-elected. The prime minister said it would not be the 'same model' as one his government abandoned in this term of parliament after a backlash from Western Australia, but released no details. The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said Labor had broken a promise to protect the environment and Peter Dutton 'doesn't even pretend to care'. Bandt said his party's position was in line with expert calls for a large increase in spending on nature protection to prevent species going extinct and help halt a documented decline in environmental health across the country. The Greens plan included $7.8bn funding in 2025-26 and an additional $17bn over the following three years. If delivered, the commitment would at least double government spending on nature, according to analysis by the Parliamentary Library. The party said the commitments should be paid for by increasing taxes on 'big corporations and billionaires' – similarly to its other major platforms, such as adding dental to Medicare. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Bandt said 'far more public money is spent subsidising [nature] destruction than protection' and the Greens were 'the only party with a comprehensive plan to address the biodiversity crisis'. 'In a minority parliament, the Greens will keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act to protect and restore our precious natural environment,' he said. Australia has more than 2,200 native species and ecosystems listed as threatened with extinction. Scientists and conservationists have described it as a world leader in mammal extinction, and a global deforestation hotspot. Labor promised to revamp the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – which has been widely criticised as failing business and the environment – and create an EPA in this term, but neither commitment was delivered. Last week it was accused of weakening nature laws after it joined with the Coalition to amend the EPBC Act to protect salmon farming in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. The amendment was welcomed by the salmon industry, unions and the Tasmanian Liberal state government. Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Albanese this week said a returned Labor government would consult the states and industry and conservation groups on new laws and a different EPA model. He said the final legislation would offer 'certainty for industry … but also provides for sustainability'. The director of the Biodiversity Council, James Trezise, said the prime minister had not included any detail 'beyond a loose commitment to further consultation'. He said the point of an independent EPA was 'to deal with the influence of vested interests in decision making', but that this seemed a 'moot point' as vested interests 'appear to have the ear of the PM, whether it's around salmon farming in Tasmania or the design of a new environmental regulator'. Trezise said Labor should again back the recommendations of a review of the EPBC Act led by the former competition and consumer watchdog Graeme Samuel, particularly his call for the establishment of national environmental standards against which development proposals could be measured. Trezise said while Labor was yet to provide detail of what it would do, the Coalition had 'so far presented no clear plan for the law reform or the environment, beyond slashing the public service in Canberra'. The Greens environmental policy wishlist includes reforming nature laws, banning native logging, spending $20bn on biodiversity restoration over the next decade and dedicating $5bn over four years to a new 'protected areas fund'.
The Guardian
27-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labor's grassroots environmental group dismayed by rushed bill protecting salmon industry
Labor's grassroots environment action network has told its members it does not support legislation that Anthony Albanese rushed through parliament this week to protect salmon farming in Tasmania, describing it as 'frustrating and disappointing'. In an email on Thursday, the Labor Environment Action Network (Lean) said it would not 'sugar coat' its reaction to a bill that was introduced to end a formal government reconsideration of whether an expansion of fish farming in Macquarie Harbour, on the state's west coast, in 2012 was properly approved. Albanese had promised the amendment to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act to protect salmon industry laws in the remote town of Strahan after internal warnings the issue was damaging Labor's electoral chances in the Tasmanian seat of Braddon, a seat the Liberal party holds on an 8% margin. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email An environment department opinion released under freedom of information laws had suggested the reconsideration could lead to salmon farming having to stop in the harbour, while an environmental impact statement was prepared. Lean's national campaign organiser, Louise Crawford, told the group's members the passage of the bill with bipartisan support on Wednesday night was 'not an outcome we support'. 'It is one of those incredibly frustrating and disappointing moments as a Lean member,' she said in an email seen by Guardian Australia. 'We have all worked so hard on getting the commitment for an EPA [Environment Protection Agency] and environment law reform for such a long time when no other party was talking about it nor interested in it.' The reconsideration of the Macquarie Harbour decision had been triggered in 2023 by a legal request from three environmentally focused organisations to the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek. The request highlighted concern about the impact of salmon farming on the endangered Maugean skate, an ancient ray-like fish species found only in Macquarie Harbour. The new legislation prevents ministerial reconsideration requests in cases in which a federal environment assessment had not been required and the development had been operating for more than five years. It was welcomed by the Tasmanian Liberal government, the Australian Workers' Union and the West Coast Council that covers Strahan and surrounding areas. The government has dismissed conservationists' and environment lawyers' concerns that this meant it could be broadly applied beyond salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, arguing it was 'a very specific amendment' to address a flaw in the EPBC Act and that 'existing laws apply to everything else, including all new proposals for coal, gas, and land clearing'. Crawford said Lean believed it was a 'tight set of criteria' that did not apply to most major projects, including coal and gas operations, or to most developments that involved significant land-clearing. But she said the advocacy group would have preferred a solution that allowed the salmon farming to continue while an assessment was carried out. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'We do not think activities should be immune from reconsideration if evidence shows they need to be given a federal environmental assessment,' she said. 'This underlines the importance of completing the full environmental reform process, and to having an independent regulator.' Crawford urged members to 'dig deep' and resolve to help Labor craft improved laws and an EPA in the next term of parliament 'despite what happened this week'. She asked them to campaign for a group of pro-nature Labor MPs who Lean has named 'climate and environment champs' – including Ged Kearney, Kate Thwaites, Josh Burns, Jerome Laxale, Sally Sitou, Alicia Payne and Josh Wilson – so that the environment 'has strong voices in caucus and the parliament'. She noted Albanese had committed to reforming environment laws and creating a federal EPA in the next term after shelving both commitments in this term. 'This is Labor policy so should be delivered no question. We will continue to work to deliver this. It's time. It's more than past time,' she said. The Maugean skate has been listed as endangered since 2004. Concern about its plight escalated last year when a government scientific committee said numbers in the wild were 'extremely low' and fish farming in the harbour was the main cause of a substantial reduction in dissolved oxygen levels – the main threat to the skate's survival. The committee said salmon farms in the harbour should be scaled back and recommended the species be considered critically endangered. A separate report by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies last month said surveys suggested the skate population was likely to have recovered to 2014 levels after crashing last decade. It stressed the need for continued monitoring. The government announced $3m in the budget to expand a Maugean skate captive breeding program.
