Koalas are disappearing as state governments and industries destroy habitats what will future Australians say when they are gone?Sue Arnoldreports.

THE ONGOING EXPONENTIAL DESTRUCTION of koalas and their habitats in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia can only be described as koala genocide.

When Australias environmental history is written, what will be the reaction of future Australians learning how governments, political parties, corporations, financial institutions and mainstream media facilitated the extinction of koalas? Will they ask why, when this generation experienced and witnessed the sixth greatextinction, was Australias unique, iconic koala sacrificed?

With the re-election of theAlbaneseGovernment and theGreensholding the balance of power in the Senate, the future survival of the koala will be on the line. In spite of a deeply flawedpredictionthat "koalas will be extinct by 2050", loved by mainstreammediaand politicians alike, given the current state of affairs, koalas will be lucky to make it through the next decade.

Remembering in 2022, Opposition LeaderSussan Ley, then Coalition environmental minister,declaredkoalas endangered in NSW, Queensland and the A.C.T. under provisions of the Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Both the Queensland andNSWState Governments took their time in upgrading state lists of endangered species toincludethe koala.

Unfortunately, the listing was only good for propaganda purposes.In terms of protecting habitats, ending native forest logging, blue gum plantation harvests, mega urbanisation projects, fossil fuel explorationand infrastructure projects, the "endangered" status is a dismal failure.

Facts speak for themselves.

One likely outcome of the 2025 Federal Election is that environmental issues will continue to be abandoned in the face of public protest.

Lets begin with NSW under the Labor premiership ofChris Minns. Concern for koalas was at an all-time high following theBlack Summer bushfiresimpacting approximately60,000koalas across the nations burnt regions. Sussan Ley acknowledged the loss of over8,000koalas on NSWs mid north coast alone.

When Labor made a pre-electionpromisein 2023 to create theGreat Koala National Park,ensuring an area comprising 300,000 hectares native forests would give the states koalas the best chance of ongoing survival and thriving, Labor received significant votes supporting the promise.

The non-existent park is now the most prominent symbol of failed Labor promises, reduced to a skeleton as more and more koala habitat is logged, corridors lost, with native forest converted into plantations.

NSW Forestry Corporation (FC) continues to cost taxpayers millions of dollars. The FC annualreportreleased in December shows a reported $29 million loss in the native hardwood division, almost double the figure reported last year.

According to theNature Conservation Council, this brings the total loss over the past four years to $73 million.

ProfessorDavid Heilpern, former magistrate and now dean of law atSouthern Cross Universitydoesnt mince words in hisdescriptorof the state-owned corporation and its record of convictions over breaches in harvesting practices.

Heilpernsaid:

In a recent judgement in the Land & Environment court,Justice Rachel Peppernoted the corporations lengthy record of prior convictions for environmental offences.

Globally recognised ecologist, ANUs ProfessorDavid Lindenmayer,makes clear hisviewon FC.

From any perspective you look at it, this really is a criminal organisation in terms of crimes against the environment, crimes against biodiversity, but also crimes against the states finances.

Moving on to Queensland, LNP PremierDavid Crisafulliand NSW PremierChris Minnsshare a similar contempt for koalas and their habitat.

In spite of afindingby the Federal Governments threatened species subcommittee that only 7,752 koalas would live in the wild in south-east Queensland by the 2032 Olympic Games, Cristafullis Government introduced a bill allowing Olympic development tobypass15 pieces of legislation, including theNature Conservation Act 1992.

Queensland conservationgroupsare concerned that the development could involve clearing an important koala habitat atToohey Foresta key habitat for over 400 native wildlife species and a significant population of endangered koalas.

Yet inParliamentary Hansardfrom 2020, Crisafulli, then member for Broadwatersaid:

Secrecy around Australia's wildlife management has been given a disturbing precedent after more than 1,000 koalas were shot in Victoria.

Over approximately the last two decades, koalanumbersin Queensland have declined by almost 50 per cent and continue to do so.

Victoria recently cemented its role as potentially the koalas most significant predator with the aerialshootingof over 1000 koalas from helicopters at Budj Bim National Park.

The raison dtre, according to the Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action (DEECA) a bushfire in March had left many koalas starving, potentially burnt and in need of euthanasia. DEECAassertedthe site was inaccessible and therefore aerial shooting was the only option.

Who approved this alarming precedent is unknown, nor the legal grounds.Helicopters and marksmen took to the skies at least four weeks after the fire had been extinguished. The entireaffairwas shrouded in secrecy and only revealed with local carers heard the shots and saw helicopters flying into the park.

DEECA acknowledged no ground-truthing was undertaken after the three weeks of shooting. No information was available on how many females with pouch young or back young had been shot, how many may have been wounded as it was only possible to shoot from 30 metres away through binoculars and optic aids.

Nearby blue gum plantation harvests had greatly exacerbated the over-population of koalas in the park.Estimatesof the number of koalas in Victorian blue gum plantations suggest between 4050,000. Carersclaimat least 50 per cent and up to 100 per cent of koalas die as a result of harvesting.

With no endangered status in either Victoria or South Australia, koalas have minimal legal protection, allowing acts of cruelty to be adopted as "normal".

Several carers toldIAof the suffering experienced by koalas injured in blue gum harvests:

In South Australia, koalas in blue gum plantations on Kangaroo Island suffer a similar fate to Victorian koalas. Former employees of a harvesting company told of their efforts to save 40 injured koalas.

AccordingtoThe Guardian,employees said the injuries included broken skulls, jaws, arms and hips.

Diseaseis a major threat to South Australias koala population.University of Adelaideresearchshowsvery high levels (77 per cent) of koalaretrovirusand 32 per cent ofchlamydiain koalas tested. Mount Lofty populations have a high rate of kidney disease, and cancer is prevalent.

Federally, a big sigh of relief greeted the appointment of SenatorLarissa Watersas leader of the Greens. Thus far, there have been words about protecting nature, but given the crises facing koalas, their ongoing survival must surely be a top priority.

Any focus by Environment MinisterMurray Watton koala survival and the urgent need for protection from extinction is unlikely given Labor state premiers appalling record of failure, cruelty and rejection of environmentally responsible governance.

Koala genocide?

Ongoing habitat destruction, diseases, loss of food and shelter, climate change impacts, fires, droughts, floods, deforestation and government neglect are the perfect recipe for extinction.

Time is running out for koalas.

Sue Arnoldis an IA columnist and freelance investigative journalist. You can follow Sue@koalacrisis.