Koala recovery at risk as community consultation collapses

Community representatives appointed by the Australian Government to help guide recovery of endangered koala populations have written to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt, warning that the national koala recovery consultation process is failing to deliver meaningful engagement, transparency or accountability.

Members of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to the National Koala Recovery Team have raised concerns about a breakdown in consultation, long gaps between meetings, limited communication, and a lack of information about progress under the Recovery Plan for the Koala.

The CAC was established in 2023 to provide community-based advice on implementation of the national recovery plan across Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Members include conservation organisations, local government representatives and individuals with extensive on-ground experience in koala conservation, habitat restoration, wildlife rescue, research and community education.

Despite this expertise, committee members say opportunities to contribute have largely disappeared.

“Since the committee was established, we have had only three meetings, and none since November 2024,” said CAC member and Certified Environmental Practitioner Olivia Woosnam.

“There has been little meaningful communication, multiple changes in coordination, and no clear pathway for members to provide input into recovery plan implementation.”

The group says the lack of transparency surrounding implementation of the Recovery Plan is equally concerning.

“Committee members receive only broad statements such as ‘some progress’ or ‘limited progress’, with very little information about what actions have actually been delivered, what outcomes have been achieved, or whether recovery efforts are making a difference,” Mrs Woosnam said.

CAC members also say they are no longer being informed of relevant funding opportunities, research developments, consultation processes and collaborative initiatives, limiting their ability to contribute to koala recovery efforts.

The concerns come as koala populations continue to face ongoing pressure from habitat loss and fragmentation, vehicle strike, disease, predation and increasing climate-related impacts.

“Across the committee there is strong agreement that habitat loss and fragmentation remain the greatest threats to koala recovery. Yet the very mechanism established to harness community expertise and local knowledge is no longer functioning effectively,” said Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland Director Dr Coral Rowston.

In the letter to the Minister, committee members have called for urgent action to restore confidence in the process, including regular meetings, transparent reporting on recovery plan implementation, and meaningful engagement with community stakeholders.

“Community organisations remain committed to supporting koala recovery and bringing practical on-ground knowledge to the table,” Dr Rowston said.

“But meaningful participation requires a process that genuinely listens, communicates and incorporates community expertise into decision-making.”

The group has warned that unless significant improvements are made, the Community Advisory Committee risks failing to fulfil the role it was established to perform in supporting recovery of Australia’s endangered koala populations.