ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: It's great to be here in Samford with the Mayor, Peter Flannery, for this really exciting announcement today. I know that it is something that so many people in this local community are passionate about, and also, it's something that I know the Mayor and the Council team are really passionate about, and that's protecting koalas. We want to ensure that people and future generations have the opportunity to see koalas in the wild. So, that's why it's important to do what we can to protect koalas, but also identify and improve their natural habitats. So, today we're announcing just under $800,000 across this region and further north to go towards protecting koalas, improving habitats, and working with councils and community groups to do that. We know that councils and community groups do so much great work, and that's why it's important for the Federal Government to ensure that we're partnering with them to improve their ability to support koalas and their habitat. So, I'm really pleased, as part of that $800,000, that we're going to provide $173,000 to the Moreton Bay Council to continue their great work and improve the great work that they already do with koalas and protecting koala habitat. So, it's great to be here with the Mayor and I'll hand over to him to say a few words as well.

PETER FLANNERY [CITY OF MORETON BAY MAYOR]: Good morning. This is a very exciting day. We want to thank the Federal Government, particularly Senator Chisholm, for the funding that's been granted to the City of Moreton Bay. This funding, the 173,74,000 will go towards the use of technology now to help enhance and protect koala habitats within the City of Moreton Bay. For the drone technology that will be able to go out there and do thermal imaging to actually locate the koalas where they are in these reserves, but also look at the weed species in there that might be hindering the progress through the corridors of vegetation that we want to use to protect the koala habitat. So, City of Moreton Bay's motto is" go green as we grow", and this helps enhance that. We've got great population growth happening with humans. We want to protect these species as well and look after our wildlife through the City of Moreton Bay.

JOURNALIST: How healthy is the local population? Do you have an assessment of how that is?

FLANNERY: We're always monitoring. This will help us get more details. If you look at the bush behind us, trying to spot a koala in there through this country would be a very difficult job and take a long time. So, this drone technology will be able to help us collect data quicker, more accurate data. The koala population through here is about 350 hectares, two reserves that connect here, and this will enhance about 20 koalas that are in that area at the moment. We want to see that population grow, and that's why the City of Moreton Bay invests into the environment, particularly protect these kind of species, because we want our kids and our grandkids to have the ability to come and see koalas in the natural habitat, and that's why people move to the great City of Moreton Bay.

JOURNALIST: Unfortunately, a lot of koalas do become stuck on the roads and with dog attacks and so on. You made the point of suggesting that a more local hospital for animal recovery could be on the cards. Hopefully soon?

FLANNERY: Yeah, I'll have a chat with the Senator soon about that. We're forging ahead with that. We've got a great community involvement here, protecting the wildlife as we grow. With 240 people a week moving to the City of Moreton Bay, there are going to be incidents and casualties through that. So, we need to be able to accommodate that, support our community volunteers who go and pick up these injured animals, get them to critical care as soon as possible. So, council's dedicated $3 million worth of land back in Dakabin to progress an animal hospital there. So, we want collaboration, support from both the State Government and the Federal Government to make that reality. And we have great support from the community and the volunteer groups that want to make this a great outcome for our environment.

JOURNALIST: So, you've got the land, but you need a bit of help with the structure?

FLANNERY: Yeah, that's right. We need some support building the structure. There's a volunteer foundation being put together who are actually fundraising to help accommodate and pay for operational expenses. They're very passionate, but we just need a little bit more support from the state and feds to get it across the line.

JOURNALIST: Can you just elaborate on the drones, how do they work? Do they actually pick up the body heat of the koalas, do they?

FLANNERY: I believe so, yeah. We're going to get in soon and see a bit more data on that. But I believe thermal engine, non-invasive thermal engine, picks up the heat signature of the koala, can pick them in trees. So, koalas are there to be camouflaged as much as possible from the predators so that thermal imaging stands out, particularly at night, and it collects that data a lot easier and a lot more accurate than the visual eye can do.

JOURNALIST: Senator Chisholm, the call has been put out for a little bit more cash for a hospital. What do you think?

CHISHOLM: I know that's something that the Mayor and the council team are really passionate about. We also know that in this area and this region, there is a lot of community support and activation around protecting koalas. So, we're always willing to talk with the Mayor and see what can be done. But this announcement today shows that the Federal Government is committed to doing what we can to working constructively with council and local community groups to ensure that we're doing what we can to protect the koalas and their habitat.

JOURNALIST: And as part of a much broader 70 plus million dollar Save the Koalas Fund?

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ANTHONY CHISHOLM: That's right. And there'll be announcements similar to this made across the country. We're focused here today on the Moreton Bay and further north into the Wide Bay -Burnett Region, and that's showing that there's a Federal Government that's committed to doing what we can to protect koalas in their habitats, but also making use of this technology to ensure that we can identify the koalas in what is really difficult terrain.

JOURNALIST: And can the community play a part as well? What role can they play?

CHISHOLM. Yeah so, with the announcement today, there are community organisations that have benefited from the funds and as the Mayor knows, in this region there's a lot of dedicated community groups and volunteers that do a lot of outstanding work with councils and other organisations protecting koalas. And it's something that they're really passionate about and it's really pleasing that the Federal Government can honour that work by giving them and contributing to expand their ability to work in the local area. Thanks everyone.

ENDS