Koala habitat
Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (12:13): My question is for the minister for the environment. Only a few years ago dozens of koalas were massacred in a clear-felling operation at Cape Bridgewater, near Portland. Koala rescuers from this region have since been pleading for protected koala habitat. They are currently rehoming on private farmland with permission, but what is desperately needed is long-term protected koala habitat. One option is to plant out the rail trail that bridges both Warrnambool and Moyne councils. This proposal would also be a boost for tourism as the current barren rail trail is often used as a walking track by visitors who could enjoy spotting koalas along the way. This situation is urgent; it takes eight years for a planted area to become viable. Until then koalas are forced to graze from the ground, forcing unnatural behaviour and putting them at threat in order to survive. Will the minister answer the pleas to plant koala habitat in this part of Victoria?
Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development, Minister for Veterans) (12:14): Thanks, Mr Meddick, for that question. It is a question for the minister for environment, and I will ensure that that question gets to that minister and you get a response within what is prescribed in the standing orders.
Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (12:14): Thank you, Minister, for forwarding that on. A number of koala advocates have expressed that a program for farmers and landowners to plant trees to support koalas would help them to survive. Koala rescuers have a number of willing participants who would be happy to do this. What programs does the government have in place to support farmers and landowners to plant trees on their properties?
Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development, Minister for Veterans) (12:15): Once again I thank Mr Meddick for his question, and I will ensure his supplementary question gets to the minister for environment and that he gets an appropriate response within the appropriate time.