Green jobs package proposed to boost economy
Work in weeding and pest control, cleaning up waste or pollution, restoring habitat or building fences could be the key to economic recovery post COVID-19.
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A $4 billion conservation stimulus package would create 53,000 jobs, reduce welfare costs by $620 million and raise economic output, a new report shows.
A coalition of more than 70 conservation, farming and land management groups is behind the proposal to State and Federal Governments.
As chair of the South Australian Nature Alliance, Trees For Life chief executive Natasha Davis has taken a leading role.
“It will benefit us all, by investing in the natural environment, which is hugely degraded and facing increasing threats from biodiversity loss and climate change,” she said.
“There’s huge capacity within existing government and non-government organisations to build longer term resilience through a wide variety of projects.”
People forced out of work by COVID-19 would be recruited to perform local environmental and land management activities, which might include weed and pest control, cleaning up waste or pollution, restoring habitat or building fences.
Yankalilla, Kangaroo Island, Victor Harbour, Mount Barker and Whyalla have been identified as Local Government Areas most affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19.
Encouraging evidence of long-term economic and environmental benefits include meaningful gains in agricultural productivity, reducing costs and lifting the capacity of the land, improving water quality and natural disaster resilience, and preserving the country’s natural heritage, the report states.
Trees For Life conservation officer Phil Goodwin was a volunteer for more than ten years before he gained paid employment three years ago. He enjoys working outdoors, restoring landscapes for wildlife.
“We do all sorts of work in the middle of nowhere, satellite phone only, where there’s all sorts of animals, you know, like bettongs and kangaroos,” he said.
“It’s a good job, you get to see things that other people really don’t see, in remote locations of remnant scrub, it’s breathtaking.”
The New Zealand Government announced a $1.1 billion environmental jobs package in May.
Their package is expected to create 11,000 jobs in regional areas, harnessing displaced tourism workers.
In Australia, state and federal environment ministers welcomed the release of the Ernst & Young report “Delivering economic stimulus through the conservation and land management sector”, on Wednesday July 1.
Environment Minister David Speirs says the Marshall Liberal Government understands the benefits of improved conservation and land management.
“I welcome the new report and we will continue to work with all levels of government, NGOs, as well as private landholders to encourage conservation projects that benefit everyone,” he said.
A spokesman for Minister Sussan Ley said the Morrison Government had “engaged extensively” with the proposal to date.
“The Government is committed to a strong focus on recovery as we move through the COVID-19 crisis,” he said.
“We welcome the release of the report and look forward to reviewing the findings.”