Yet increasingly they are out of step with public opinion. The Herald reported on Monday on a poll of 28 countries attitudes to environmental issues which found that Australians are not so worried about air or water pollution, thanks to our generally clean environment, but they are much more concerned than most other countries about wildlife conservation and climate change.

Even though Australians now mostly live in cities, contact with nature remains spiritually important to many people from all walks of life. Material wealth will not compensate for the news that the koala population has declined by 33 per cent in the past 20 years and the next generation of children may never hope to see one of them in the wild.

The UN report points out the collapse of biodiversity is not just about feeling nice. It could also have economic consequences. In Europe and North America the destruction of native forests is killing the insects which are needed to pollinate crops. Marine stocks are collapsing as Australia has seen in the mass fish kills along the Darling River.

Both major political parties have proposed action to stem the tide of extinctions of native flora and fauna but they are reluctant to take the hard decisions.

Last Friday Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged $12 million to research and create sanctuaries for a few species including koalas, WA’s black cockatoos, Bruny Island’s eastern quolls and Kangaroo Island’s endangered dunnart.