8 Dec 2017

WWF: NEW QLD GOVERNMENT MUST URGENTLY PROTECT KOALAS AND FORESTS

WWF-Australia congratulates Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on victory in the Queensland election and is urging her to deliver protection for koalas, forests and the Great Barrier Reef within the first 100 days of her re-elected government.

WWF-Australia CEO Dermot O’Gorman said it was vital the Queensland Premier and her team acted quickly on their promise to end the runaway bulldozing of bushland.

“The clock is ticking because landholders have flagged that they want to bulldoze 500,000 hectares of forest,” Mr O’Gorman said.

“Nearly 60,000 people signed a WWF petition urging Queensland politicians to strengthen protection for koalas and other wildlife by ending excessive tree clearing."

“The bulldozing of forests also harms the Great Barrier Reef by increasing sediment runoff."

“We urge the Premier to reform the Vegetation Management Act to better protect wildlife habitat and the Reef within her first 100 days in office."

"Every day's delay is another day we lose more habitat,” he said.