Tabart of the Australian Koala Foundation expressed the need to introduce a Koala Protection Act, which would increase protection for the tree habitats that koalas are known to rely on across the country.

“If we don’t just do the simple thing of stopping the cutting of trees now, then I just can’t see a secure future. And that’s why I want better legislation. No legislation in our country is enough to stop this simple chainsaw,” she said.

“Most of the things that happen to koalas now are due to the cutting down of their trees. They end up being homeless, they starve, they get sick and then they die… The decline is massive.

Locally, Pointing and his group in the Redlands are active in promoting education and awareness of the presence of koalas in the community. She admits that koalas can be anonymous and difficult to spot, which can hamper attempts to protect them.

But a bigger part of his activism is about holding policy makers accountable for actions that can make or break koala habitats in the region. A proposed development called Toondah Harbour, which includes plans for a major new residential and leisure district on the Redlands coast, is the focus of KAG’s attention.

She said this is another example of the authorities doing something on one side, while the other does another. The project would be located in koala habitat and in a protected wetland area.

“They are not serious about protecting koalas. Because in the end, people are more important than koalas. People need to live somewhere and play somewhere. So I think koalas will always be the losers, which is sad. But that’s the reality,” she said.

“What a tragedy for our children and grandchildren not to be able to see koalas in the wild as we were lucky enough to do.