Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector) Share this | Hansard source

The government’s position in opposing this motion relates to Senator Brown’s call for a new inquiry to look into many of the matters that Minister Garrett has directed the nation’s pre-eminent scientific body on biodiversity conservation, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, to undertake in terms of a new assessment of the national status of the koala. This assessment is well underway and is due for completion by 30 September this year.

We all acknowledge that the koala is clearly an iconic species of great importance to all Australians but, in terms of transparency, the scientific committee recently consulted widely on the nature and extent of threats to koalas nationally, and a large number of submissions were received from researchers, care groups, local councils, members of the public and others concerned with koala conservation. The scientific committee is now considering all submissions closely before it concludes its assessment and advises Minister Garrett regarding whether or not the koala is eligible for listing as a threatened species in Australia and, if so, which category is most appropriate. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee has not yet reached a view of the koala’s eligibility for any threatened species category and will assess its eligibility against all relevant categories. In relation to work to protect this iconic species, Minister Garrett and his state and territory colleagues are moving forward with the implementation of the new National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy 2009-2014, and this strategy aims to conserve koalas throughout their natural range.