138,000+ hectares of koala habitat bulldozed as Albanese fails on new nature laws

The Albanese government has today confirmed it has no plans to follow through with an election promise to reform Australia's weak environment laws, just days after hundreds gathered in Brisbane demanding the government deliver its promised Nature Positive laws.

New analysis shows that despite the Albanese government committing to no new extinctions, 138,617 hectares of koala habitat was bulldozed in just one year in Queensland. This forest was bulldozed under the current, weak federal nature laws, leaving the loopholes wide open for further clearing, putting the koala on a fast track to extinction.

Queensland Conservation Council is calling for the Albanese government to deliver on its election promise and create stronger protections for Australia’s iconic threatened species, including the koala.

Queensland Conservation Council Nature Campaigner Natalie Frost said

Today's announcement is a death knell for koalas and the other 2000 threatened species that are at risk of extinction.

Data shows that Australia urgently needs an independent environmental protection agency to crack down on the bulldozing of threatened species habitat.

The Nature Positive laws have had extensive stakeholder engagement. A full 86% of Australians support the nature positive laws so it's nonsense to hear that the government wants to delay delivering on their election promise to set up an independent EPA and central environmental data agency.

Enough is enough. Koalas, greater gliders and over 2000 other animal and plant species are currently threatened with extinction. Endangered species like koalas can’t afford to wait while the Prime Minister prioritises politics over their very existence.

This is a matter of integrity. With an election looming, Queenslanders need to know they can trust the Albanese Government to keep its promises.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to protect our wildlife for the benefit of generations to come, and we implore the Albanese government to urgently commit to reforming environment laws.

Event speakers (front row, L-R): Anthony Gough, Deputy Director, QCC; Hannah Schuh, Queensland Campaigns Manager, The Wilderness Society

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