AUSTRALIA NEEDS A GREEN RECOVERY - SHOW THE MORRISON GOVERNMENT! 

Australia's economy has been hard hit by both the bushfires earlier in the year, and by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Australian government's primary concern as our country emerges from the pandemic is making a steady and permanent economic recovery, but we cannot accomplish this without investing in environmentally beneficial jobs and industries. 

A group of more than 70 farming, conservation, and land management organisations is lobbying the Morrison government to dedicate $4bn of stimulus spending to create jobs for more than 50,000 people in areas that would help repair the environment. A report by professional services firm Earnest & Young commissioned by the organisations, the plan could create 53,000 jobs over four years. These jobs, in areas such as planting trees, restoring wetlands, rivers and coastal habitats, and removing weeds. It would also reduce welfare costs by approximately $620m and increase economic output by approximately $5.7bn. 

This plan is exactly what Australia needs to repair both its economy and its environment. It would redirect spending into regional areas, allowing the money to flow into the pockets of regional residents, the livelihoods of whom have been destroyed by the recent bushfires - this would be life-changing for millions of Australians who were already struggling before the pandemic. It would also support the recovery of land destroyed by bushfires and drought, and target demographics hit hardest by the crises, including women, young people, and the unskilled. 

If we want to emerge from this crisis with a stronger economy and a repaired environment, this stimulus package is essential. By signing this petition, you are showing the Morrison government that a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is what Australians want. Please sign it, for the benefit of our environment and our economy.

Sources                                                                                                                      The Guardian. 2020. Call for $4bn stimulus that would create 50,000 jobs and care for the environment | Australia news | The Guardian. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jul/01/call-for-4bn-stimulus-that-would-create-50000-jobs-and-care-for-the-environment [Accessed 03 July 2020].

The Guardian. 2020. The green recovery: what is it and will Australia miss a once in a lifetime opportunity? | Australia news | The Guardian. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2020/jul/02/the-green-recovery-what-is-it-and-will-australia-miss-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity [Accessed 03 July 2020].