Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch says new plans announced by NSW Labor if elected in March will protect key koala habitats in the state.
Labor’s plan will commit $80M to create an iconic Great Koala National Park, protecting approximately 20 per cent of the wild koala population in NSW.
“Koalas are vital for the state’s environment and ecosystem,” tesch said.
“Over the past 12 years, the Government has removed environmental protections, increased rates of land clearing and let the protection status of koalas slip from ‘not threatened’ to ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’.
“Koalas are expected to go extinct by 2050, if we don’t act now.
“Labor has committed to take the action needed to recover the koala population.”
On the Central Coast, Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary at Calga has homed koalas for several years.
General Manager Tassin Bernard said having a dedicated sanctuary is really important for the animals.
“People think of koalas as cute fluffy teddy bears, but it’s not until you meet them that you understand how complex they are,” she said.
“Koalas are what makes Australia, Australia.”
“Voters have a clear choice – vote for a party that has been caught up in koala wars or vote for a party that will commit to real action saving the koalas,” she said.
Source:
Media release, Jan 30
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch