Wildlife Queensland has confronted the Queensland Government over its handling of the crisis in south-east Queensland's koala population.

In a letter delivered this week to Minister for Sustainability, Hon. Kate Jones, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (Wildlife Queensland) says that koalas are being eradicated from south-east Queensland while state agencies do nothing – or even contribute to destroying koala habitat unnecessarily.

'There has been abundant scientific evidence for years about the threats to the koala populations of south-east Queensland, but very little has been done about it,' said Des Boyland, Wildlife Queensland spokesperson today.

'Wildlife Queensland is extremely disappointed with the lack of commitment by the State Government to koala conservation in the region,' Mr Boyland said.

'‘We hoped there would be funding in the Budget on Tuesday 16 June, but there’s nothing indicated in the Budget for koala conservation,' he said.

'The State Budget granted $6.8 million for the redevelopment of the old Kangaroo Point TAFE site, which will provide almost 10,000 square metres of public parkland – but as far as I'm aware that isn’t koala habitat,' said Mr Boyland.

Wildlife Queensland has asked the Minister to explain why the Queensland Government has not only allowed clearing of koala habitat in koala conservation areas, but has engaged in activities that destroyed habitat.

'Contrary to the State Government's promise in 2007 not to sell government land supporting koala habitat, the Education Department even sold a parcel of land containing important koala habitat in Cleveland to a private organisation,' said Mr Boyland.

'Queensland Rail cleared significant mature koala food trees in Ormiston, a koala hot-spot but threatened by urban encroachment,' Mr Boyland added.

'Wildlife Queensland acknowledges the investments the Government has made in the Queensland Koala Conservation Plan and the State Planning Policy on the Conservation of Koalas in SEQ,' said Mr Boyland

Experts predict that the koala could be extinct in south-east Queensland by 2010.

More about the koala crisis in south-east Queensland

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.