Thursday, 20 November 2025

 Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:54): My constituents are very fond of koalas, it would not surprise you, and so my question is for the Minister for Environment. In particular what I am keen to understand on behalf of my constituents is the status of the Victorian koala population report and surveys. If the minister is able to tell me whether he has received that report and, if he has received that report – I believe it was submitted to DEECA in June – what he intends to do with it. In addition to that, I am very keen to understand what assessments have been made of the koalas on French Island and what the government intends to do with that situation. We are all koala lovers, and I am not feeling the love from you right now, but I am sure it is coming.

A member: Are the koalas voting for you in Ringwood?

Members interjecting.

Nick McGOWAN: Wombat Bend? I am just interested in koalas. There is a koala in our electorate. There is a great big turtle at Ringwood East train station, but that is an entirely different matter. I will not raise it in association with this issue, but I would welcome the minister’s response on behalf of our beloved koalas.

Harriet Shing: We just get better and better here in this house, don’t we.

The PRESIDENT: We do not really. I might review that, because it is like, ‘My constituent’s worried about something,’ and it sets a precedent. But I am confident there are parks in the north of our electorate that have koalas.

Nick McGOWAN: I will get the name of that park to you.

The PRESIDENT: If you send that to me, we will square that off. Sorry to take everyone into that conversation.