Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta national parks to receive extra $262.3 million in Federal Budget

Australia’s Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta are among the National Parks in the Northern Territory to benefit from an extra $262.3 million in the 2023-24 Federal Budget, to address what has been described as years of neglect and "chronic underfunding".

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's office has confirmed $262 million will be featured in the Federal Budget's forward estimates and will be additional to more than $200 million already pledged for Kakadu.

The Government’s investment will address critical infrastructure needs, including updating unsafe equipment, fixing inadequate signage, providing essential ranger housing, and refurbishing rundown facilities like the Kakadu Aboriginal Cultural Centre. It will boost conservation activities and cultural heritage management. And it will support important programs like the new National Seed Bank at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

In a statement released today, Minister Plibersek noted “our national parks have been left with broken infrastructure, out-of-date equipment, and inadequate facilities.

"These natural treasures should be a source of national pride, but instead they are falling apart.

"At Kakadu, the Jim Jim ranger station roof is peeling off and there are broken or missing crocodile warning signs in the park.

"At Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, roofing is falling apart on shelters designed to provide shade and protection from the harsh desert heat, and housing for staff is inadequate.

"Shockingly, two of Australia's most recent extinctions happened in our national parks."

“Programs to protect threatened species and eradicate invasive species have been woefully underfunded. This puts at risk the safety of staff and visitors, and compromises the ability to protect some of our most precious places, and the plants and animals that call them home."

This investment will create new roles for Traditional Owners to work on Country and new positions to ensure safety and delivery of major projects.

The Commonwealth’s national parks include Booderee National Park and the World Heritage-listed Kakadu and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, and a network of 60 Australian Marine Parks.

Images from top: Kakadu National Park - Buffalo cause damage to the landscape and native wildlife; Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Damaged and typically worn decking on walkway – Hazard for staff and visitors; Kakadu National Park - Weather damaged signage making the sign unreadable and a risk to staff and visitor safety; Kakadu Jim Jim Rangers Station - Electrical switchboard with roof damage – Work health and safety issue for staff; Christmas Island - Feral cats are a predator of native wildlife including to a number of threatened species