“Koala war” breaks out in Australia - 21st September 2020

Australia's New South Wales government is battling it out over a policy designed to protect koala habitats.

The dispute, nicknamed a "koala war", is over a law passed in December which aims to safeguard the forests koalas call home.

Koalas are recognised around the world as a symbol of Australia. They are tree-dwelling marsupials, often mistakenly referred to as 'koala-bears'. Native to the eucalyptus forests of south-eastern and eastern Australia, they are considered 'vulnerable' to extinction and the main threat to their survival is loss of habitat.

In 2019-2020 an estimated three billion animals were killed or harmed nationally as bushfires ripped through Australia. With millions of acres of forest burned to the ground, an inquiry in June found that without urgent measures to ensure their safety, koalas face extinction by 2050.

The new policy has increased the number of tree species considered as koala habitats. It also introduces a requirement for landowners to present a case for any development and outline its impact on koala populations. This has sparked controversy amongst farmers for the potential impact it could have on the value of their land.

New South Wales is governed by a coalition. The junior coalition party, the National Party, objects to the policy, arguing the protection places too much responsibility on property owners. Party leader John Barilaro has said his party will no longer support any government legislation. This effectively reduces the ruling Liberal Party to a minority government until the dispute is resolved. The Liberal Party says the new law is essential for the survival of the koala and has the backing of local communities.

Conservationists, however, remain unconvinced that the policy goes far enough in protecting these iconic animals.