Greens call for moratorium on clearing koala habitat at GKNP rally today
What: Press Conference and community rally for the Great Koala National Park
When: 10 am TODAY, Monday, 13 January
Where: Coffs Harbour - Forestry Corporation Office - 30 Park Ave, Coffs Harbour NSW
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will call for a moratorium on clearing koala habitat and an end to native forest logging at a rally for the Great Koala National Park in Coffs Harbour today.
Senator Hanson-Young said the Greens will be putting the environment top of the agenda during the federal election campaign and in any power-sharing parliament which is looking increasingly likely.
"You can't save koalas while continuing to destroy their homes. Unless we take urgent action to end clearing of critical habitat, koalas will be extinct in NSW by 2050," Senator Hanson-Young said.
"Experts have been warning us for years that habitat loss is putting our national treasure, the koala, at risk. Yet the Albanese Government continues to approve the clearing of koala habitat for mining and development including three coal mine extensions just before Christmas.
"Time is up for up native forest logging. It's time to start protecting nature.
"The NSW Government promised to protect this precious koala habitat as a national park, yet destruction from logging has only increased.
"Loopholes in our national environment laws continue to allow this destruction to go unassessed. Labor is turning a blind eye to this logging while they should be banning the destruction of koala habitat and working to end native forest logging.
"Saving forests from logging is good for the climate, good for the animals and good for the community.
"We have the opportunity right now to stop more extinctions and protect endangered wildlife including our precious koala, swift parrot and greater glider.
"Whether it is by the creation of the Great Koala National Park or stronger environment laws that stop the destruction of critical habitat, the Greens urge Labor to save Australia's great forests from the chainsaws and the bulldozers before it's too late."
