OPINION: When the first woman to lead the Liberal Party, Sussan Ley, jetted through the Gunnedah shire four years ago, koalas were the focus of the day.

Ley, who was then Minister for the Environment under the Morrison Coalition government, joined former Member for Parkes Mark Coulton at Carroll for a funding announcement in November 2021.

Ms Ley said Gunnedah’s koalas would be further protected from drought and changing climates under a $1 million federal government investment. This formed part of an $18 million koala package.

The following year in May 2022, the Coalition lost the federal election to the Labor Party which was recently re-elected earlier this month.

Given the fickle nature of politics, we could be led to believe this funding for koalas dried up as quick as the vote for the Coalition. But a quick glance over the funding announcements tells a different story – with $76.9 million invested in the Saving Koalas Fund to support the recovery and long-term conservation of the koala and its habitats.

– Sam Woods

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