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ARTICLE · 08 MARCH 2022

Koala conservation status elevated

Cooper Grace Ward
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Effective 12.02.22 the conservation status of koalas in Qld, NSW & the ACT was lifted from Vulnerable to Endangered.

AustraliaEnvironment
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On 10 February 2022, Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley made the decision to elevate the status of koalas under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act). Effective from 12 February 2022, the conservation status of koalas in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory was lifted from 'vulnerable' to 'endangered'.

What are the consequences of the change in koala conservation status?

An immediate consequence of the elevated status is that referral guidelines and policy documents relevant to the status of koalas as vulnerable are no longer current. However, the Minister has published the Conservation Advice for Phascolarctos cinereus (Koala) combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. This advice must be taken into consideration when making a decision under the EPBC Act.

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