Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hanson-Young for her question. The Morrison government is taking action and investing $50 million over four years to boost the long-term protection and recovery efforts for koalas. This investment will protect and restore koala habitat, it will improve our understanding of koala populations, it will strengthen research into koala health and it will support training in koala care and treatment. This new package takes the Morrison government's investment in koala recovery to more than $74 million since 2019.

The Threatened Species Scientific Committee has been undertaking a reassessment of the status of the listed koala, following the impacts of bushfires and in addition to other threats such as land clearing, dogs, cars and disease. The Minister for the Environment, Minister Ley, is currently considering the advice within statutory time frames. The draft national plan for the listed koala has been revised in response to the submissions provided during the public comment period, and the government intends to formally make that plan public as soon as possible. By working together with state and territory governments, with researchers, with land managers, with veterinarians and with community groups, we can all protect the koala for generations to come.