A new report shows that logging the promised Great Koala National Park is set to destroy more than 12 thousand hectares of koala habitat since the election of the NSW Labor Government in 2023.
Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said:
"The failure of the Minns Labor Government to deliver the Great Koala National Park has been one of the greatest disappointments over the last two years. This disappointment has turned into white hot pain and anger because of the delay and how extensive the logging has been, and that more is planned over the next 6 months,"
"This will go down as one of the biggest environmental political failures of our time. Never before have we been in this situation, where the very natural environment that is subject to a public pledge of protection is systematically destroyed, it's a disgrace,"
"Even in the National Party seat of Coffs Harbour, 70% of the community support the creation of the Great Koala National Park. There is absolutely no apparent reason for Labor to delay the announcement of the park, it's just a political failure,"
"Premier Chris Minns has promised to protect the koalas of NSW from extinction, but right now he is effectively killing koalas with logging. The idea that he will announce the Great Koala National Park after the Forestry Corporation has smashed and grabbed so much koala habitat first is heinous,"
"The delay has caused so much anger and confusion, with renewed fear that the Park will now be further delayed until after the Federal Election. I asked the Minister this week whether that was the case, she denied this, but justified the continued destruction of the Park on the basis that it will be announced 'soon'. We have been told soon, as we have to witness the destruction for months and months, it is just not good enough," Ms Higginson said.
