The Australian Greens are calling on Federal Environment Minister Peter
Garrett to immediately list the koala as a vulnerable species until more
information about the nation-wide numbers and health is known.
In Sydney with NSW Senate candidate Lee Rhiannon today, Australian
Greens Leader Bob Brown said a national inquiry into long-term health of
koala populations is needed.
Greens Leader Bob Brown said a national inquiry into long-term health of
koala populations is needed.
"The koala is an iconic and much-loved Australian animal but we don't
know enough about their status to say if they are threatened or not,"
said Senator Brown.
know enough about their status to say if they are threatened or not,"
said Senator Brown.
"I moved for a national inquiry into koala population numbers, health
and long-term management earlier this year - the Government knocked it
back.
and long-term management earlier this year - the Government knocked it
back.
"I will move again for this inquiry after the election, but Minister
Garrett has it in his power now to list the koala as vulnerable under
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Garrett has it in his power now to list the koala as vulnerable under
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Greens Senate candidate Lee Rhiannon said NSW conservationists had long
been calling for better protection for koalas.
been calling for better protection for koalas.
"Logging of key koala habitat is ongoing in New South Wales despite the
clear risk it poses.
clear risk it poses.
"Listing the koala as a vulnerable species would ensure that any
potentially threatening activity to koala colonies - like logging in
Mumbulla and Murrah state forests - would need to be referred to the
Minister before it could go ahead.
potentially threatening activity to koala colonies - like logging in
Mumbulla and Murrah state forests - would need to be referred to the
Minister before it could go ahead.
"It would be a tragedy if the koala was pushed to the brink of
extinction or beyond before we knew how threatened they are."
extinction or beyond before we knew how threatened they are."
Media contact: Peter Stahel 0459 133 597/Erin Farley 0438 376 082
www.greensmps.org.au
www.greensmps.org.au