Australian Koala Foundation urges repeal of outdated Regional Forest Act 2002

The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) has today released new research revealing the stronghold the logging industry across Australia continues to have on our political leaders.

Among the findings of the report was the extensive reach and sheer recklessness of the Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs). These agreements, struck between the federal and state governments, hold immense power over Australia’s native forests, overriding the EPBC Act.

The Australian Koala Foundation highlight “while many believe environmental laws safeguard our precious forests, RFAs create a significant loophole. They authorise logging of native forests on public land, private land and possibly even within National Parks, all while bypassing the usual environmental approval processes. This means critical habitats and endangered species lose essential protections when they fall within an RFA zone.”

The Australian Koala Foundation, backed by this new research, is calling for the urgent repeal of RFAs, saying they pose the greatest legislative threat of all to Koalas.

Australian Koala Foundation Chair, Deborah Tabart OAM, known internationally as ‘The Koala Woman’ has today taken to Canberra with her call for the repeal of RFAs. She has also written to the Prime Minister outlining AKF’s plea for action.

Tabart notes “Regional Forest Agreements are the best friend of Australia’s logging industry. They have not only proven to be a toothless tiger for biodiversity conservation, but rather, the single biggest risk to the survival of Australia’s beloved Koalas.

“RFAs have been extended in NSW until 2039. It is laughable to think that the proposed Great Koala National Park could have any impact whatsoever, when RFAs continue to condone the decimation of trees within its boundaries.

“Truly I was shocked, and it explains why the current Environmental Minister Tanya Plibersek did not answer my letter last year when I asked her to explain why and how the RFA’s became more powerful.

"Logging is a thing of the past, whether we like it or not. Because there are only 15% of the world’s original forests left and I always ask myself when will we stop? A logger would say that trees grow, and yes, they do, but the trees currently being cut down are hundreds of years old and this industry is now on the endangered list, just like the Koala.

“The logging industry has such a stronghold over our political leaders that the wellbeing of endangered species and their habitat is entirely overlooked. You have to ask, why does this legislation still have the capacity to override the protection of the Koala. It also over-rides common sense; that our forests are essential for our biodiversity and essential for Australia’s climate change policies.”

“The Australian Koala Foundation will not rest until RFAs are repealed and a Koala Protection Act is enacted” added Tabart.

“On Sunday 1st September, the AKF will return to the streets of Canberra to host our inaugural ‘Koala Army March for Creatures Great and Small’. We urge the people of Australia to join us. The March will be a joyous celebration of Koalas and all Australian wildlife, underpinned by a strong message that the people of Australia demand that wildlife habitat is legally protected.”

To find out more about the Koala Army’s March for Creatures Great and Small, visit savethekoala.com/koala-army