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Report of the Senate Inquiry into Koalas Released

Submitted by fok on Sun, 2011-10-02 13:51.

The Report of the Senate Inquiry into Koalas, The koala – saving our national icon, was finally tabled in Federal Parliament on 22 September. It is a very readable document and its nineteen recommendations provide a sound framework for important first steps in improving the chances of saving koalas in areas where their numbers have declined significantly.
Minister Burke says he also welcomes the Report and that he will be working through the Committee’s recommendations as well as the extensive assessment undertaken by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee and comments from the public in his own assessment of whether or not to list the Koala under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
While we acknowledge the situation is complex, we believe the Act does lend itself to a vulnerable listing in areas where koala populations have declined significantly or are at risk of doing so.  We call on Minister Burke to find a way to do the right thing and list.