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Keep up to date with current wildlife news.
These short articles summarise news about Wildlife Queensland activities or information about recent developments in wildlife issues that reflect the Society's interests.
For past news articles, visit the news archive.
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Where is the Science?
The recent announcement by the LNP Government to permit grazing in several national parks has drawn negative comment not only from the community and conservation movement but also the Federal Government... more
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Government Action to Protect Wildlife
The LNP Government has taken initial steps to create a glider refuge on Brisbane Southside in the Flinders Karawatha Corridor... more
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The swing of the pendulum: Vegetation Management Framework Bill 2013
The Minister for Natural Resources and Mines stated 'The previous Labor Government had allowed the pendulum to swing too far towards extreme green policies' ... and this was the justification for breaking a commitment of the now Premier, Campbell Newman, made prior to the last election ... more
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Mother’s day Vigil for our precious bushland – 19 May 2013
Unlit candles will be held, at a Vigil of concerned mothers and grandmothers, this Mothers' Day at 10.30 am, in the Botanical Gardens in Brisbanein a quiet but deeply felt expression of concern about the possible forthcoming Vegetation Legislation proposals. ... more
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Power to Move on Flying Fox camps
The Environment and Heritage Protection Minister proposes to allow local authorities to move on flying fox camps without applying for the necessary permits ... more
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Exciting opportunity to work for Wildlife Queensland!
Wildlife Queensland is looking for a dynamic, hard-working and friendly person to work as Senior Projects Officer based in our Brisbane head office on a 12 month contract part-time position ... more
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Quoll Seeking Success!
After three months of searching, the hard work has paid off. A healthy male quoll was photographed, providing valuable evidence that they are still persisting within Scenic Rim Regional Council area ... more
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Biodiversity - Genuine concern or electioneering?
Wildlife Queensland welcomes the Federal Government's intentions to extend its powers under the EPBC act to include coal mines and coal seam gas projects that have a significant impact on a water resource. ... more
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Has 'Can-Do' Campbell gone batty?
Wildlife Queensland is simply aghast at the Premier’s latest attempt to gain community support yet again at the expense of the environment and our wildlife ... more
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Biosecurity Bill 2012 Delayed
The long awaited Biosecurity Bill 2012, three years in the making, will not be enacted during the life of this Government ... more
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Community support for the curlews of Coochie
As a wildlife volunteer, you may find yourself exhibiting unusual behaviours - like walking slowly along the streets of Moreton Bay’s Coochiemudlo Island ... more
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State Government encourages the Shale Oil industry
Wildlife Queensland continues to be amazed at the so-called benefits for the community the LNP Government in its wisdom continues to introduce at the expense of the environment and its wildlife ... more
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Coral Sea Marine Reserve – a step closer
The second public consultation period for the Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network, including the jewel in the crown - The Coral Sea Marine Reserve, closed on 14th February 2013. Due process now follows ... more
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Action on the Fisheries Front
The Hon John McVeigh, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recently advised Wildlife Queensland, a key stakeholder, that the coming year will be a very busy year ... more
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Proposed Amendments to the EPBC Act update
The Council of Australian Governments recently reaffirmed its commitment to broad environmental regulation reform that enhances efficiency and increases certainty for business while maintaining high environmental standards ... more
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Make the environment your Valentine today!
While you can't hug a turtle of give a koala a bunch of flowers, you can show your love for our special places and wildlife ... more
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Silt threatens Moreton Bay
While Moreton Bay seagrass meadows seemed to fair well after the 2011 flood, another major flood could be putting even a resilient system to the test ... more
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Recreational fishing in Qld Marine Park green zones rejected
Prior to the March 2012 State election, there had been a very strong push from the recreational fishing lobby to allow fishing in the green zones. Wildlife Queensland put a counter argument that the status quo remain ... more
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Coral Sea Marine Reserve - draft management plan
On 14 January 2013, the Commonwealth Government released the draft management plan for the Coral Sea marine reserve. There is one last opportunity for you to have your say and make a contribution ... more
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Connecting with Nature: The social dimensions of feeding wildlife
Recent research into people's connection with nature suggests that having a sense of connection with nature is of great importance for human wellbeing and conservation values ... more
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Australia helps pave the way for conservation in Vietnam
On January 5, Wildlife Queensland hosted a high level delegation from Vietnam for a conservation corridor site visit in Australia, building on Australia’s learnings in the practical establishment of wildlife corridors ... more
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Update on Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill
At the close of submissions on 19 December, about 85% of submissions opposed the amendments to allow permanent ecotourism facilities within national parks ... more
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Australia helps pave the way for conservation in Vietnam
In January, Wildlife Queensland is hosting a high level delegation from Vietnam for a conservation corridor site visit in Australia, building on Australia’s learnings in the practical establishment of wildlife corridors ... more
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Council of Australian Governments Meeting
Wildlife Queensland gives qualified support to the outcome from COAG which at least deferred the inappropriate action of devolving assessment of environmental impact to the states ... more
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Environmental Assessment: what is the Federal Government thinking?
For reasons best known only to itself, the Federal Government is seriously considering devolving the environmental responsibilities of the EPBC Act to the States and Territories of Australia ... more
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Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012
The Bill allegedly facilitates peoples' access to national parks, reduces regulation, repeals 'unnecessary' legislation. In reality it opens up national parks for permanent commercial infrastructure and long term leases ... more
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Mahogany Glider update - Tully Branch
This year has seen the Tully Branch forge very productive partnerships. The post Yasi opportunity to secure more habitat for the Glider has been the main thrust ... more
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The Future of Protected Areas
Des Boyland, Secretary to the Wildlife Queensland State Council presented a paper outlining the functions of the Protected Area Estate, the current situation and his prediction for the future... more
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PlatypusWatch Update
This December, 58 volunteers are rising before dawn and taking to Brisbane creeks to help gather data on platypus distribution and abundance ... more
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Grey Cross Campaign update
According to organisers, this coordinated campaign on 3 November was very successful with various groups displaying the Grey Crosses at sites from as far north as Port Douglas in Queensland to Melbourne in the south ... more
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World’s Largest Network of marine reserves proclaimed
On 16 November 2012 the Australian Government created history when the largest network of marine reserves was proclaimed. Wildlife Queensland commends the Government on its action ... more
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Pied Imperial-Pigeon monitoring project
At the Australasian Ornithological Conference last year, two papers were presented on Queensland pied-imperial pigeons, specifically on the valuable data acquired through long-term counts at breeding colonies ... more
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Don't Shoot Bats - The Grey Cross Campaign
On one weekend in November, the aim is to raise awareness of what is being done to these unique and special animals, and to say that animal cruelty, and killing threatened species, is never acceptable ... more
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Death by Barbed Wire
As seen in this picture taken on 12 October, the dangers of barbed wire fences to wildlife are well documented. It is a threatening process in recovery plans for a number of species including the mahogany glider ... more
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Koala Funding Boost
Wildlife Queensland applauds the funding boost announced today by Andrew Powell Minister for the Environment and Heritage Protection ... more
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Sunshine Coast Regional Council fails to protect Woondum National Park
Peoples' enjoyment is at risk because the previous State Government approved a noisy quad bike operation. The Sunshine Coast Regional Council could have helped protect this National Park but ... more
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Environment and the Queensland Government - 6 months on
The LNP Government has been in control for over 6 months, the budget has been handed down and public servant numbers reduced. How is the natural environment and its wildlife weathering this time of change? ... more
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Proclamation of the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Update
Currently it is a waiting game. Date for submissions on the proposal to declare the Commonwealth Marine Reserves has passed ... more
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Flying Foxes Targeted
The LNP Queensland Government has seen fit to announce amendments to the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) regulation 2006 to permit up to 10500 flying foxes to be killed annually ... more
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National Threatened Species Day
On 7 September, Wildlife Queensland took conservation to the people in the Queen Street Mall, Brisbane. The spotted-tailed quoll, northern quoll, mahogany glider and Richmond birdwing butterfly were featured ... more
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Talking Wildlife - Visual Summaries
Wildlife Queensland's 50th anniversary conference, Talking Wildlife, featured a stellar array of speakers and more than 200 attendees. The two days of ideas and information are well worth sharing and building on ... more
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Qld Government reintroduces shooting of threatened flying-fox species
Threatened Species Day (Friday 7 September) is being marked this year by the re-introduction of government-sanctioned killing of two threatened species in Queensland – the Grey-headed and Spectacled flying-foxes ... more
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Quolls under threat near Warwick
As reported in the recent Quoll Seekers Network News, the proposed development at Cherrabah near Warwick was open for public comment until 8 August ... more
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Threatened Species Day: 7 September
Join in, have fun and support our endangered wildlife projects. Wildlife Queensland will be at this year’s BIG event in Brisbane’s Queen St Mall featuring live animals, wildlife activities and presentations ... more
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Myrtle Rust - how you can help reduce its impact
This serious fungal disease continues its spread. It will be highly unlikely that Fraser Island will remain free from this rust with devastating results for the many myrtaceous plants susceptible to this disease ... more
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Surviving the Magpie Season
Did you know that the morning chorus of the magpie is considered to be the most complex song of any bird? At this time of year, with the looming threat of a magpie attack, it can be hard to appreciate this fact ... more
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Inquiry into Government land tenure across Queensland
The State Development, Infrastructure and Industry parliamentary committee is holding an inquiry into the future and continued relevance of Government land tenure across Queensland ... more
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DestinationQ Forum – but what about nature?
In the early 1990s Australia was a global benchmark for ecotourism. Today, as the rest of the world catches up and passes us, are we in danger of walking away from this status? ... more
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Conservation projects with a bright future
Wildlife Queensland is pleased to announce the 2012 recipients of our student research grants. Here are the 5 applicants who each received $1000 towards their research project ... more
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Environmental Defenders Office faces financial challenge
The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) has been another victim of the LNP Government'’s 'claw back the dollars attitude' ... more
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Friends of Taunton National Park
Wildlife Queensland and its Upper Dawson Branch have worked cooperatively with the new Queensland Government to establish the first Friends of Park partnership in Queensland. Taunton National Park is the location of this working relationship with a wildlife focus ... more
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Wildlife Queensland meets with Minister
Hon Andrew Powell, Queensland’s Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection held a meeting with us to discuss flying fox issues ... more
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Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network Proposal
The Australian Government has released the details of the largest network of marine parks in the world made up of five major zones around the coast of Australia. ... more
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World Heritage Status of the Great Barrier Reef at Risk
A joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN report has been released that indicates in the absence of substantial change, there is a distinct possibility that the World Heritage Listing of the Great Barrier Reef is in Danger. ... more
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New Weeds of National Significance
Twelve more weeds of national significance have been declared. Unquestionably this is a step in the right direction. However unless appropriate actions are implemented little benefit will flow ... more
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Nathan Dam back on the agenda
The Nathan Dam and Pipelines project is again back on the agenda. The EIS has been prepared under a bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and State Governments. ... more
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Commonwealth approves two major Queensland projects
Commonwealth Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities recently approved the Connors River Dam and pipelines project as well as Moranbah to Alpha pipeline project. ... more
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The vulnerable koala: are we in time to save our national icon?
The Australian Government recently listed several koala populations as 'vulnerable'. As koala researcher and conservation planner, Chris Adams-Hoskin is most impressed with Minister decision ... more
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National Wildlife Corridors Plan
On 8 March Hon Tony Burke, Commonwealth Environment Minister announced the release of a draft National Wildlife Corridors plan. The period for comments closes on 20 April 2012 ... more
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Machinery of Government Changes
The recently elected Newman Government certainly has given the structure of the Public Service of Queensland a new and different look ... more
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Save the Great Barrier Reef from Coal
Enormous expansion of coal mining, coal seam gas exploitation and coal exports threatens one of Australia’s most precious treasures, the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most biodiverse areas. ... more
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Call for Leaders to Declare Commitment to Save Queensland’s Koalas
Queensland’s Faunal Emblem and National Icon – the Koala – is in a desperate situation. In mid February, Commonwealth Environment Minister declared his intention to list the Koala on the National Threatened Species List ... more
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Wildlife Corridors: a landscape-scale approach to biodiversity conservation
On 8 March Hon Tony Burke, Commonwealth Environment Minister announced the release of a draft National Wildlife Corridors plan ... more
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Queensland Election update
The election is becoming closer and certain significant environmental announcements have been made. These give some additional insight on how the environment and our wildlife will be managed ... more
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Queensland’s Threatened Animals Book Launch
Wildlife Queensland recently hosted a most enjoyable evening at the Ship Inn in Brisbane to celebrate the launch of a very important book: Queensland's Threatened Animals ... more
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Mt Emerald Wind Farm Update
The proposed project has been deemed a controlled action and the assessment method is to be by environmental impact statement. On 24 February, draft EIS guidelines were released for public comment. ... more
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Hundreds of thousands support the Coral Sea
At the end of February, submissions to the government’s Coral Sea draft plan closed. Wildlife Queensland would like to thank the over 450,.000 individuals who sent off a submission ... more
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Wildlife Queensland Research Grants 2012 - Money up for grabs ...
In March 2012, Wildlife Queensland launched its 2012 Student Research Grants Program - available to students at Queensland Universities ... more
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Environment, welfare groups call for ban on flying-fox killing to remain
Major animal welfare and conservation groups today called on all political parties to commit to maintaining the current ban on killing flying-foxes for crop protection ... more
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A leap forward for Biodiversity Conservation in Queensland
The announcement today of a Border to Beach wildlife corridor across Queensland to be delivered by a future Labor Government would be a significant leap forward for biodiversity conservation ... more
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Queensland State election: Will the environment get a fair go?
The March 2012 election may prove to be a tipping point for environmental protection and conservation in Queensland ... more
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Good News for Flinders Karawatha Corridor
After many years of campaigning this sixty km bushland corridor from Karawatha forest to Flinders Peak has been protected legislatively ... more
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Potential blow to North Stradbroke Island
Groups concerned about the future of Stradbroke Island are alarmed that not only would an LNP government extend mining on North Stradbroke Island but also it would open up the island to quarrying ... more
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Out of time for Stock Route Bill
The future of the Stock Route Management Network Bill is unknown. The Anna Bligh Government simply ran out of time ... more
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Myrtle Rust Update
Since the commencement of summer, incidences of myrtle rust on eucalypts have increased. ... more
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Proposed Wind farm at Mt Emerald, North Queensland
Wildlife Queensland has taken the opportunity to forward comments on the proposal. Usually Wildlife Queensland is a supporter of alternative energy but on this occasion, it is the right project in the wrong place ... more
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Draft Hinchinbrook Area Island and Marine Management Plan
The Department of Environment and Resource Management is revising management plans in the Hinchinbrook area. The proposed plan has many great proposals but there are some clangers ... more
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The delta of Queenland's Fitzroy river is under increasing pressure
WPSQ members are alarmed about a spate of new proposals for coal ports, stockpiles and railway lines planned within the sensitive intertidal zone of the mouth of the Fitzroy River ... more
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Save Bimblebox Nature Refuge
Bimblebox Nature Refuge is located in central-west Queensland. It is another likely victim of the resource boom as it is in direct line of a proposed open cut coal mine ... more
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For more information about Wildlife Queensland's activities, email or call +61 7 3221 0194. |
