Baby Koala Bear (Phascolarctos Cinereus) in Pouch, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Pacific. By James Hager, via art.comBy DARREN CARTWRIGHT, November 1, 2009

NEW Queensland Government planning laws to protect dwindling koala numbers in the state’s south-east are laughable, the Australian Koala Foundation says. Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones yesterday announced measures to protect the marsupials’ habitats. The measures include spending $15 million to buy new habitats or rehabilitate existing sites, compulsory acquisition powers for koala habitats outside the urban footprint, land swaps and banning dogs in new developments. ”You really can’t take anything this Government does seriously,” Australian Koala Foundation chief executive Deborah Tabart said yesterday. ”Fifteen million dollars would buy about five hectares and that’s enough land to house one koala. … Ms Tabart said it was estimated that by the end of 2010 no koalas would inhabit the Koala Coast region – 375 square kilometres of land starting 20 kilometres south-east of Brisbane.

Strategy to save koalas ‘laughable’