Australian cultural funding, by artform category

http://www.apo.org.au/research/australian-cultural-funding-artform-category
This analysis of arts funding by artform category shows that the big dollars go to the public sector cultural organisations: parks and wildlife departments, public broadcasters, libraries, museums and art galleries. The entire Australia Council budget is only $175 million out of this total figure of more than $5 billion – more than half of which goes to 29 major performing arts organisations. We can infer that relatively little funding goes to ordinary working artists.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Solving Australia's mammal extinction crisis

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/09/02/2674674.htm?site=science/opinion
"Evidence suggests Australia is on the cusp of another wave of mammal extinctions with a reduction in the abundance of some species and alarmingly, their range. This is undoubtedly one of the major biodiversity conservation issues affecting Australia. It's crucial we focus on the management solutions required to stop these species falling into extinction." Iain Gordon

Source: ABC Science/10th International Congress of Ecology

New blueprint needed to save biodiversity

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/08/17/2658266.htm
Climate change will demand a shift in how we protect biodiversity and how we view natural systems, says a new Australian report. The report, Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change: a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia's biodiversity to climate change, shows species are moving in response to climate change.
Will Steffen, from ANU, stresses that national parks will still be important, but will need to be connected by "corridors", which will allow movement of species seeking to escape to more suitable climates.

Source: ABC latest environmental news

Strategy for Australia's National Reserve System 2009-2030

Australia’s National Reserve System Strategy 2009-2030 has been developed by the Commonwealth, states and territories, who have all agreed to work towards clear targets to secure long-term protection for our terrestrial biodiversity. One of our most effective tools in securing this natural life support system is Australia’s National Reserve System (NRS) – the nation-wide network of parks, reserves and private protected areas. - Media Release Peter Garrett 2 Jun 2009.
http://environment.gov.au/parks/publications/nrs/nrsstrat.html

Source: Caring for our Country, National Reserve System.

Dingoes may be a native's best friend

The dingo may actually help protect native rodents and marsupials from introduced predators, Australian researchers have shown. The study, published in the online version of the journal, Animal Conservation, shows the positive effect dingoes have on biodiversity. In the first field study of its kind, wildlife ecologist Dr Mike Letnic and colleagues from the University of Sydney, monitored native dusky-hopping mice (Notomys fuscus) at six locations in central Australia near Cameron's Corner.

Source: ABC News in Science