Koala Woman Says
Look at the discrepancy between AKF and government numbers. This says that more traipsing through the bush is needed and the member should seek funding for a koala count. It may be an avenue for recovery.
This clearly says that the Commonwealth’s National Koala Monitoring Program needs to do more work here. Koalas are scattered across this electorate with occasional sightings; however the koala “hotspots” are at Inverloch and Walkerville (on the coast), Moondarra (north of Morwell) and around Foster. Other Koalas are found scattered across a very fragmented agricultural landscape, and there is no doubt that, over the last 20 years, Koalas are gradually disappearing across this landscape. Phillip Island used to have 1000 koalas in 1988 and now there are none in the wild and less than 30 in the Philip Island Conservation Centre. We would be happy to hear from residents on Philip Island to confirm this.
Member for Monash
Ms Mary Aldred MP
Australian Labour Party
Mary.Aldred.MP@aph.gov.au
46C Albert Street Warragul VIC 3820
Will she Act or Axe?
Koala Numbers
Estimated AKF Koala Population: 500-800
Estimated Koala Habitat left: 49.1%
Estimated Federal Government Population: 100-20,000
The Victorian Government opposed the protection of the koala and there is no Federal protective legislation in place.