Thursday's (September 10) decision by NSW Nationals to break with the Liberal Party over koala protection raises disturbing questions.
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An overwhelming majority of voters on the Mid North Coast value koalas highly and are now confused and disappointed to see their local National Party MPs take part in an attempt to make the Liberals back down on koala protection.
Leslie Williams, Melinda Pavey and Stephen Bromhead must now level with their electorates and explain where they stand on the protection of this iconic and valuable native species.
The recent findings of a NSW inquiry that koalas in the wild will become extinct by 2050 if we continue the way we are, and that existing regulations governing land development need strengthening, are a wake-up call to our politicians if ever there was one.
Liberals are right to stand by the koala in NSW, and make the legislation work as intended. We support the premier and her planning and environment ministers in trying to do the right thing by New South Wales, by regional people and the koalas that live here.
The Mid North Coast is a koala hot spot and we value our koalas for our 'clean-green' image, the tourism branding they bring, and just knowing they live around us, that we share our surroundings with them.
We are not impressed that having these National Party MPs now means they are putting development ahead of koala protection. Everyone should make their feelings known to Leslie Williams, Melinda Pavey and Stephen Bromhead to put koalas before greed, profit and business-as-usual land development.
We elected them and they are accountable to us the voters. We need to know where they stand on this issue. We call on them to stand up for koalas.
