I have been a strong advocate for protecting our precious Australian wildlife all my life. I even ran from the tip to the toe of Australia (150 marathons over 150 consecutive days) to champion this cause.
Here on the Gold Coast, our koalas are at significant risk.
The Southern Gold Coast is home to one of the most important remaining populations of koalas in Queensland - and therefore in the world. Loopholes in Koala protections at federal, state and local government are glaring, despite being classed as endangered at both a state and national level.
We need a comprehensive approach to koala protection, as part of stronger national nature laws.
I will fight for a Southern Gold Coast Koala Program to:
- Identify and secure vital connections and crossings across the Burleigh to Springbrook koala corridor that make it safe for koalas to move across the landscape.
- Restore and regenerate degraded habitat through a network of volunteer koala tree planting projects.
- Support wildlife carers by improving facilities and providing financial assistance to cover the substantial costs of caring for our native wildlife, particularly during natural disasters and recovery efforts.
- Recognise and assist landholders with koalas on their land to maintain and enhance koala habitat and install koala friendly fencing.
- Fund the new research and education wing of the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.
- Strengthen and actually enforce koala protection laws to ensure no koala habitat is destroyed.