Conservationists are celebrating the announcement today of a new park to protect iconic greater gliders who have been spotted in hollows of irreplaceable forest trees in the Eastern Hardwoods region near Maryborough.

The Queensland government plans to establish a new Greater Glider Forest Park as part of a plan to reform the state's timber industry and protect nature.

Queensland Conservation Council congratulates the Minister for Environment on taking forward this idea proposed by QCC, signifying the Government’s commitment to ending native forest logging and saving iconic species, alongside having a sustainable timber industry.

QCC Director Dave Copeman said:

We strongly welcome this new 54,317 hectare refuge for greater gliders! Glider habitat continues to be logged and cleared on both private and public lands across their range, so every hectare we can save is critical.

It is a much needed breather for one of our cutest and irreplaceable Queenslanders, the greater glider.

Sadly we know from overwhelming evidence that logging is incompatible with protecting this species. When greater gliders’ feed trees or nest trees are taken, they die.

It’s urgent we do all we can to save this incredible Queensland species from extinction, and shift the timber sector into planted forests which already supply 90% of our timber needs.

Logging native forests is outdated and we owe it to Queensland to create a more sustainable path and timber supply.

Forests are worth more to Queenslanders when trees are left standing, for jobs in nature, tourism, clean water, healthy soil and other things we take as a given.

Read the report: Koalas or coal mines, how the federal government can help save Australia's most iconic species (PDF 40mb)

A shocking new report, 'Koalas or coal mines, how the federal government can help save Australia's most iconic species' reveals that federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is facing approval decisions on 23 new coal mines and expansions in NSW and Queensland that are proposing to clear thousands of hectares of endangered koala habitat and produce more than 8 billion tonnes of carbon pollution.

The research concludes that at least 26 proposed new coal mines will clear important koala habitat, including 23 projects that are being assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act and seeking approval from the Albanese government and three projects that have not yet been referred for EPBC assessment. The 26 coal mining projects plan to clear a combined total of 11,644 hectares of koala habitat if granted approval by the federal government, an area equivalent to 112 square kms, which is around 5,822 MCG sized sporting fields, or 41 times the size of Sydney's CBD.

Confronting new video evidence shows logging occurring in the habitat of endangered greater gliders in publicly owned native forests, shortly after the government promised a greater glider forest park would be created.

This shocking development also comes right as more Australian animals have been declared threatened and on the brink of extinction.

Screenshot from video evidence of logging in a state forest near Maryborough, close to den and feeding sites of the endangered greater gliders.

A team of volunteer experts and citizen scientists went to a state forest near Maryborough at the end of July, and discovered a high density population of the endangered greater glider - a species which is native to Queensland and on the decline across the country.

Logging was documented less than three kilometres from a site where the group spotted seven of the elusive, nocturnal greater gliders in just one night.

Today's incoming 50c public transport fares for south east Queensland could cut the number of kilometres driven on our roads by 1.5 billion km every year, saving 245,000 tonnes of carbon pollution every year, and reducing wildlife deaths.

The new analysis from Queensland Conservation Council is based on SEQ's new public transport fares diverting just 10% of commuters to trains and buses from private vehicles, with the state's environmental peak body calling for on-going public transport investment to ensure people take advantage of this climate and cost of living solution.

Environment groups are giving evidence today at the Senate inquiry into the Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill, aiming to send a clear message to the Albanese government that the so-called "Stage 2" environment reforms will require significant amendments in the Senate to change the status quo for nature.

Conservationists are concerned new plans to redevelop QSAC for the Olympics could lead to clearing of important koala habitat at Toohey Forest, urging the government to commit to a 'koala-positive' Olympic Games.

Conservationists have welcomed the purchase of two cattle stations in north west Queensland in the spectacular Channel Country.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has bought Tonkoro and part of Melrose near Winton, adding about 200,000 hectares to expand existing national parks in the area.

The final SEQ Regional Plan update  shows an increased recognition of the need to reign in urban sprawl, and to design better, more resilient, cities and communities.

Many of the features of this updated Plan reflect the principles that SGS Economics & Planning suggested in their independent report Best Practice Regional Planning for SEQ.

However, it does not go far enough in protecting and restoring critical habitat, and ensuring the sustainability and liveability of our communities.

With more than 340,000 hectares of bushland cleared each year, Queensland continues to push threatened species to the brink of extinction. Only 21 field visits were carried out in 2022-2023, demonstrating that the Palaszczuk Government is leaving broadscale clearing unchecked. With the majority of clearing taking place in 'unregulated' lands known as Category X, it can now be revealed that there are remnant ecosystems, home to koalas and endangered reptiles within these areas that are not being protected. 

Queensland's natural environment will benefit if root-and-branch reform of the nation’s federal environment laws remains consistent with the goal of ending extinctions.

Yesterday's targeted consultation on the long-awaited Nature Positive law reform is the first of a number, as the Federal Government works to finalise laws that can deliver on Tanya Plibersek's courageous promise to end extinctions in Australia.

Queensland Conservation Council, the state's peak environment body, welcomed measures including the commitment to nature-positive outcomes in decision-making and a stronger independent Environmental Protection Agency, but flagged the risk of laws being watered down, with proposed community enforcement rights to ensure federal laws not in the draft.

Dave Copeman, Director of Queensland Conservation Council, said:

"These laws are a once in a generation chance to fix our broken nature laws. The Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act is meant to protect biodiversity, but Queensland’s koalas, gliders, white-throated snapping turtles, elegant frogs, yakka skinks and gouldian finches are on the brink of extinction

The results are clear, our current laws are fundamentally failing, and projects that put the animals we love at risk keep getting approved.

"It's early days in this process, with yesterday's consultation just the first of many, but what I saw is root and branch reform of national environmental laws. There are some strong parts of what is proposed, including a strong commitment to achieving nature-positive outcomes in every decision.

"There is a proposal for a strong Environmental Protection Agency, with a CEO empowered to make decisions to protect and restore nature.

"But there are also some weaknesses that need to be addressed. Today's consultations included the proposed approval process, and they don't currently include any opportunity for the community to take actions when laws are not being enforced.

"We need so-called 'third party enforcement' provisions. Federal Government agencies aren't on the ground like community groups are, so local communities need to be able to take action when our species are being harmed.

"There are also strong forces seeking to water down stronger environmental protection.

"Right now, the Federal Government needs to hear from every Queenslander who cares about our koalas, our greater gliders, our regent honeyeaters and gouldian finches, that we want laws that protect the places and the species we love."