Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I do like the member for Griffith, but there is much in her contribution that I would like to disagree with. There are many things in this chamber and across the chamber that we can agree on, and I think one of those is that the koala is one of our iconic species. We see the koala in all forms. We see them printed on mugs and tea towels when they get sold to tourists and locals alike. We see them on our TV screens, in the form of Binky Bill, the iconic children's TV show that graced our television screens for every decade. They come in chocolate form with caramel inside. And they come in a foam suit—I'm referring to Borobi, the mascot for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. They are very much an iconic species, and we as a nation need to do everything possible to protect and preserve them for future generations.

It is our duty to preserve and maintain our environment for future generations to enjoy and ensure they have the opportunity to enjoy our natural environment as we do. I think that's one thing in this place we can all agree on. What we may not agree on is how we get there. But, unlike those opposite, members on this side of the House have a record to stand on when it comes to not only protecting koalas but looking after our environment. We actually have a very good record. One of the things we don't do is talk about it very well, but we do have a very good record in the environmental space more generally.

Just last year we announced the delivery of over $3 million to the Australia Zoo, the Queensland RSPCA and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, providing each with over $1 million in funding for each hospital to create an important network of services to support koala populations. These animal hospitals are located in areas of high koala population and, sadly, were largely affected by last year's bushfires in Queensland. We've supported these hospitals and we're delivering the funding to show and support the great work that they are doing in helping our koala population in South-East Queensland.

At the time, Dr Michael Pyne, Senior Veterinarian at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, welcomed the funding, saying that the generosity of this federal grant will allow Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to expand its veterinary services to cope with the rapidly growing number of koala admissions. He went on to say, 'Currumbin Wildlife Hospital will also participate in crucial koala research projects looking to unlock the cures and identify the prevention options for many of the Koala diseases that are threatening the species.' This is important groundbreaking work that the Morrison government is delivering in partnership with experts, the people on the ground each and every day working hard to support our koala populations.

Just last week we announced an $18 million package to protect koalas with $2 million going towards a national audit of koala populations, looking at where koalas are, where the habitat areas are and can be expanded, and establishing an annual monitoring program. We all want to see koalas prosper, but we can't do that until we know where they are and the best ways to help. The scientists are telling us that there's a serious lack of data about where these populations are, how they are faring and the best ways to help them recover. This census will create a picture that we just don't have at present. The big picture will help us understand the important local places for our koala population. Another $2 million will be invested in koala health research and veterinary support; and $14 million will help restore impacted koala habitats in both bushfire and non-bushfire affected areas and provide targeted funding for koala habitat in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Since 2014 the government has invested $26 million into projects that have benefited koalas directly and indirectly. When it comes to looking after our iconic Australian species of koala, we won't be taking lessons from those opposite because it is this side of the chamber that has the record on delivering for koalas and continues to do so; they don't.

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