Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner

The Threatened Species Commissioner brings a new national focus and effort to address the growing number of plants and animals in Australia that are faced with extinction. The Commissioner, sitting within the Australian Government Department of the Environment, champions the development and implementation of practical conservation actions designed to secure priority national threatened species in the wild for at least the next 100 years. An important part of the Commissioner's role is bringing together partners to deliver the agreed programme of conservation actions for priority threatened species - whether through funding or contributing other skills and expertise. The Commissioner also leads efforts to report on the outcomes of conservation actions for priority threatened species, including the effectiveness of specific investments and achievements in terms of the goals of securing priority species in the wild. A key role for the Commissioner is to work collaboratively with all levels of government, scientists, the non-profit sector, industry and the community to build on new initiatives and strategic approaches to threatened species conservation being trialled and implemented across the country; to better coordinate conservation effort; and to share information about these activities. The work of the Commissioner complements but does not duplicate or override the important statutory responsibilities of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.