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10/05/2026

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STANDING HEARING –VICTORIAN SUPREME COURT - HELICOPTER SHOOTING OF OVER 1000 KOALAS AT BUDJ BIM NATIONAL PARK

It was a difficult two days of hearings in an ancient court house which is more like a maze with no ready access to toilets, no cafeteria and terrible acoustics.

The challenge by DEECA to deny Australians for Animals Inc standing was held in court room 13, with very little accommodation for the public. But the charity had a good mob of supporters who faithfully sat through the never ending DEECA counsel submissions to the Judge as to reasons why AFA should be denied standing.

To summarize, DEECA lawyers attempted to paint a picture demonstrating that the charity had no special interest in koalas ( other than an emotional one) and that there was no interest by AFA in any Victorian environmental issues relating to koalas.

Two witnesses from DEECA when questioned by AFA’s lawyers acknowledged the decision to authorize the shooting was made prior to the stake-holders’ meetings and that the five groups involved, Wildlife Victoria, IFAW, Humane Society International, RSPCA and Animals Australia were asked to keep the decision confidential. Which they did.

Sue Arnold, AFA’s public officer was in the witness box for well over an hour and a quarter whilst DEECA counsel tried to paint a picture of no current work by the charity on koalas and no involvement in any Victorian koala issues.

Given that AFA has been deeply engaged in the plantation issues, has attempted on several occasions to launch legal challenges against the Victorian government – with no success as a result of Environmental Justice and EDO not having capacity, plus the massive scientific submission to the US government which resulted in the koala being listed under the US Endangered Species Act, multiple campaigns for koalas in NSW, Queensland, SA, and Victoria, the charity’s history speaks for itself.

We will now wait for the judge’s decision. It may take weeks or several months. It is extraordinary that this case has dragged on for more than a year, apparently highly unusual according to Victorian lawyers).

Koala Crisis can make no prediction about the outcome. But it is clear that the government is pulling out all stops in an effort to ensure the massacre of these koalas never goes to trial.

However, AFA is determined to ensure justice for these poor koalas and to ensure that the decision to use this horrific method of killing is never again contemplated.

Victoria has a terrible history of severe and intense bushfires which will only get worse under climate change. If the helicopter shooting is found to be lawful, the future suffering of koalas and other wildlife could include this horrific method of “euthanasia”,

Once again, grateful thanks to ALL who have supported AFA in this critically important battle. We will win because we MUST win. Victorian government’s treatment of koalas and wildlife is a national scandal.

Helicopter shooting of any animal should be banned.

AFA is a grass roots organization. It always has been. This legal challenge can only be described as a David and Goliath battle.

Given the times we’re living in, the charity hopes that our principled stand inspires others to walk the talk. Our wildlife and our animals are sentient beings with the same needs as human beings.

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04/04/2026

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KOALAS NEED HELP - LEGAL CHALLENGE UPDATE

Last year, the Victorian government approved the helicopter slaughter of over 1000 koalas at Budj Bim National Park in southwest Victoria.

The operation described as “ humane euthanasia” was planned and carried out in secret. But when neighbours heard the helicopters and gunshots, they soon realised something terrible was happening in the Park.

A nearby blue gum plantation that borders the Park had been recently harvested, resulting in many koalas losing their food and shelter in the plantation, driven out with the only accessible shelter with food and water being the Park.

A major bushfire had broken out in the Park in early March. Four weeks after the fire was extinguished, DEECA ( Dept of Energy, Environment & Climate Action) decided that there were burned, starving koalas in the Park, koalas who could not be accessed or rescued and the only option was “ humane euthanasia” by aerial shooting.

Given that the entire exercise was conducted in secret, trial killing(s) by helicopter, vet inspections by helicopters ( no idea how many or where abouts) with secret meetings which included major conservation organisations, DEECA approved the killing.

No Australian state or federal government has ever permitted the helicopter shooting of koalas, listed as endangered in NSW, Queensland and the A.C.T. In using this inhumane method, the Victorian government set an horrific precedent.

Koala scientists have said it’s extremely unlikely any koalas would have survived for four weeks after the fires were extinguished.

Koalas sleep in the clefts of trees. They can be difficult to spot. Some of the Koalas in Budj Bim Park at that time would have had joeys. The terror of the helicopter noise, the massive downdrafts of the machines with marksmen shooting all day for almost a month would have been like putting koalas in a war zone.

There was no ground truthing. No independent experts were allowed to visit the site. The site was readily accessed by Friends of the Earth. Not a single koala co**se was found, so no independent autopsies could be carried out.

Australians for Animals Inc, has mounted a legal challenge against DEECA. The originating Judicial Review seeks a judgement that DEECA’s approval was unlawful. The charity has a top legal team, with many court hearings having already taken place.

On May 7/8 there will be a Standing hearing in the Victorian Supreme Court. A judge will decide if the charity (with its 36 plus year history of koala conservation) has the legal right to mount the action against DEECA. Once the decision is made, if approval is granted, then the trial will be set down for hearing.

Please donate to this vitally important legal challenge. The Andrews and Allan Victorian Labor governments have a terrible record when it comes to wildlife protection. You can make a donation at: www.givenow.com.au/koala-crisis.

Thank you all so much. Justice for Koalas is long overdue.

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22/03/2026

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VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT – A LEGAL DESERT FOR PUBLIC INTEREST ENVIRONMENTAL LAW.

There’s a grave legal crisis unfolding in Victoria, one that isn’t getting the attention of mainstream media, the greens, Animal Justice and independents. Or environmental groups.

A perfect example is the FOI request made to DEECA’s FOI unit on 25 November, 2025. Given the major public concern over reports that French Island koalas were dying of starvation, Australians for Animals Inc (AFA) made the following request.

1. Details of field trips undertaken by DEECA to French Island focused on koalas between January 2020-to current date.

2. Reports, field trips, analyses of koala eucalyptus feed/shelter trees on French Island focused on eucalyptus tree diseases including extent of phytophthora from January 2020- current date.

3. Reports, field trips undertaken to establish koala population estimates on French Island from January 2020- to current date.

The fee of $33.60 was duly paid the same day. No receipt was sent, nor acknowledgement of the request.

Over the next now almost four months, AFA sent numerous emails to the DEECA FOI unit requesting information on the progress of the request. No response.

Eventually, AFA decided it was time to make yet another complaint to the OVIC ( Victoria’s FOI ombudsman).

This is the info that the OVIC website supplies if an agency has not complied with the FOI request within 30 days. According to the OVIC website - To make a complaint to us, you must:"
make your complaint within 60 days of the action or conduct occurring;"
You can ask for OVIC to review the failure to respond. If the OVIC decides to review your complaint, it takes an incredible 120 days – because they don’t have the resources. Or.. you have the option to…

Apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on the basis that the agency or Minister is taken to have made a decision refusing to grant access to the requested document in accordance with the applicant’s request;

DEECA holds the Olympic title for failure to respond to FOI requests in a timely manner and/or excels in providing useless information which does not fulfil any of the details requested in the FOI. Delays are now an art form in DEECA. For example:

• High-sensitivity (koalas, logging, enforcement, incidents):
o 3–6 months not uncommon
o sometimes no response until OVIC is triggered

Then you might ask, how many core environmental public interest law firms focused on the environment are there in Victoria.

Answer? Victoria is EXTREMELY thinly resourced.

There are Two. Environmental Justice and the EDO. With limited capacity, lack of funding to enlist enough lawyers to deal with the tsunami of potential lawsuits that should be run in Victoria. How often have we heard " sorry we don't have the capacity".

The EDO receives federal government funding. EJA is basically independent.

The consequences to wildlife and environmental issues are severe. The only other option is to seek law firms who are willing to do pro bono environmental legal challenges Only 5-10 of these firms engage with any regularity.

Pro bono legal assistance is often limited to specific areas.

In essence, the Victorian government is operating in a legal desert which provides virtually no oasis for public interest environmental legal challenges, but as well mainstream media rarely covers the issue which amounts to very significant structural failure.

Koala Crisis can’t over-emphasise the impacts of this terrible lack of public interest environmental law centres. This vacuum allows the government to bring in unenforceable guidelines, delays, to rely on approval for environmentally damaging projects to proceed without fear of challenge, memorandums of understanding which should be immediately challenged, to seriously diminish the statutory operations of RSPCA Victoria.. the LIST IS ENDLESS.

One of the best examples of the government’s ability to remain unaccountable, lacking in transparency, denying the public interest, is the current duck hunt. Scientific evidence is overwhelming, the hunt should be banned. The evidence of cruelty has been made by RSPCA Victoria. There’s been a 90% decline in waterbirds along the east coast in the last four decades.

How many Victorian waterbirds were burnt, injured, died in the January fires?

Victorian unions threatened a ban working on big government projects if the government banned the duck hunt, claiming killing ducks helps the mental health of workers.

Does this situation sound like Labor Premier Allan's decision to allow the killing of up to thousands and thousands of waterbirds is legally ok? Because workers might have mental breakdowns if they didn't engage in a blood sport ( hardly a sport killing bird) ?

Democracy is dying in Victoria unless there’s a significant focus on funding more public interest environmental centres. No, donations won’t do it. The funding needs to come from the well-funded foundations – if there any who understand that without a strong legal system, accountability and transparency, no environmental crises in Victoria will be given the legal focus that ensures legislative protection, citizen rights and an end to obscene destructive approvals for pojects that have no place in our climate impacted world.

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31/12/2025

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KOALAS – KANGAROOS – GLIDERS- PLATYPUS – POSSUMS – BIRDS
What does 2026 HOLD IN STORE FOR OUR WILDLIFE ?

Koala Crisis has been in deep discussions with Australians for Animals committee over the ongoing catastrophic loss of not only koalas, but all our wildlife. None of us feel optimistic about 2026.

The environment, biodiversity loss and climate change impacts on Australia’s unique wildlife have been firmly shut in the rapidly expanding Labor and Coalition political closets. It’s hard to get your head around the fact that in 2026, the 26th year of the 21st century, when every scientist knows the Earth is facing a grim future, Australia’s “ leaders” continue to ignore environmental reality.

The Greens, who made - what can only be described as “slight “ changes -to the Albanese EPBC Act amendments, failed to make biodiversity loss and a climate change trigger the line in the sand. The public was behind them. But they settled for much less. We’re in desperate need of politicians who walk their talk.

The much touted “ logging will have to comply with environmental standards in l8 months time” is not an acceptable compromise. Native forest logging needs to end. NOW. The only way Australia can comply with its international commitment to net zero emissions by 2030 ? 2050? is to stop logging our native forests.

One of the biggest cover ups in 2024 and 2025 is the terrifying loss of wildlife habitat, caused by massive habitat clearing for renewable energy, particularly in previously intact habitats in the Great Dividing Range.

Koala Crisis has heard some real horror stories coming from people who have witnessed the destruction and deliberate killing of koalas in the way of the project

Many people who are living this ongoing nightmare as more and more high conservation land is bulldozed, wildlife slaughtered, noise, diminishing land values, loss of quality of life are described in mainstream media as being “opposed to renewable energy”.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The renewal energy market is ripe for the dollar pickings with ready advantages since there’s no adequate legislation at state or federal level to ensure species and habitat protection.

Meantime, wildlife rescuers and shelters are struggling with injured, sick, traumatised animals. especially koalas -with broken bones and injuries from vehicle strikes, dog attacks, diseases, cancer, blindness, mange, florosis rotting their teeth, bones, causing painful deformities. The list of diseases and threats grow daily.

What’s happening in Queensland is appalling as more and more koala habitat is lost with the government’s response to public concern- yet another strategy.. As if entire forests haven’t already been cleared to provide the mountain of paper making up a Queensland history of ‘ DO NOTHING BUT PRODUCE LOTS OF PAPERS” solution to the massive koala decline.

Then there’s the effort by the NSW government to persuade us that there’s now more than 250,000 koalas in the state – this is the PROJECTED POSSIBLE estimate.. .. The Minns government now following Trump’s example by introducing fake science to cover up the ongoing destruction of habitat.

In Victoria, there will be a state election in November. This is the time to work hard to increase support for the Animal Justice Party, lobby lndependents, the Liberals. Join the Greens, demand that the plight of Victoria’s koalas be a top policy priority. Make koalas a big election issue. They deserve to be for a multiplicity of reasons.

Demand an independent inquiry into the absolute failure of the Victorian governments’ of both persuasions, to deal with any shred of acceptable koala conservation.

Koala Crisis salutes every community group, wildlife shelters, individuals, fighting like hell to save our natural heritage. 2026 is the year that we must win a break for koalas, kangaroos, gliders and the rest of the wildlife team. We have to persuade the Greens and aware Independents to make the environment THE TOP PRIORITY.

The economy depends on nature. Our survival depends on nature. Our morality is defined by how we treat each other and the non-humans who not only share this Earth, but are the drivers of a healthy viable future.

Don’t despair. Collectively, we’ve a lot to fight for and an incredible will to win. Being a warrior for animals is a blessing, their gifts of unconditional love, trust, and compassion bring real joy and sorrow to our souls.

Let’s make 2026 the year we turn the tide. It really is crunch time.

This photo was taken in southwest Sydney where clearing of koala habitat for massive housing projects has driven koalas into suburbia where there’s no food, no eucalyptus, dogs, vehicles and zero safety. All thanks to NSW governments headed by Berejiklian and Minns. Check out Save Sydney’s koalas for more info!

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23/12/2025

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ANIMALS GRIEVE... KOALAS, DOGS, CATS, HORSES.. THIS IS INCREDIBILE EVIDENCE.

This a picture of Snowy the cat, sitting on the grave of her best friend, Pepper the deaf dog who has been her companion for the last five years.

She watched the family bury their precious dog last week and every afternoon Snowy goes to the grave, sits quietly with her special friend.

THIS IS AMAZING EVIDENCE OF ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE AND THEIR DEEP EMOTIONS.

THIS IS WHAT OUR GOVERNMENTS ARE DESTROYING. THEIR INHUMANITY IS SINFUL. Imagine the grief our wildlife, our koalas, gliders, possums, birds, domestic animals feel when they lose their young, their partners, their tribe.

A tsunami of grief. Humanity is lost.. we have so much to answer for.

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14/12/2025

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OUTCOME OF SUPPRESSION HEARING ON HELICOPTER SHOOTING OF OVER 1000 KOALAS AT BUDJ BIM NATIONAL PARK. ( LEGALLED)

By way of consensus between Australians for Animals’ legal team and DEECA lawyers, the Court ordered that a Suppression Order apply on the identification of three people mentioned in DEECA’s evidence.

The suppression order will extend for five years across Australia. The three names are not to be published, including by the media, until 2030.

The Court was satisfied that some social media comments made by third parties about the aerial shooting of the koalas was a risk to the psychosocial welfare of the three people. Australians for Animals does not condone threatening language including about the shooting of the Koalas.

Although the names and other identifying information is suppressed, the evidence of those three people still form part of the case.

DEECA has also agreed to pay Australians for Animals’ legal costs of the suppression order and confidentiality process.

Our next step will be a hearing where DEECA will ask the Court to dismiss Australians for Animals’ case on the basis that it does not have standing (the necessary special interest) to bring the case.

Yesterday's ruling provides a stiff warning to those whose comments may be considered as threats to people involved in government decision making, resulting in a five-year censorship.

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04/12/2025

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VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT’S LATEST EFFORT TO ENSURE SECRECY OVER THE HELICOPTER SHOOTING OF MORE THAN 1000 KOALAS IN BUDJ BIM NATIONAL PARK.

DEECA’S APPEAL AGAINST SUPPRESSION ORDER JUDGEMENT WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY DECEMBER 11 IN VICTORIA’S SUPREME COURT, 210 WILLIAM STREET, MELBOURNE.

The previous successful judgement in the Supreme Court in September has been challenged on appeal by DEECA. The judgement was a huge win for transparency, accountability and the rights of the public and media to ensure the identification of those involved in authorising a highly controversial secret government unprecedented aerial shooting of koalas could not be kept hidden.

Tax payer dollars will again be spent by DEECA in another legal effort to suppress any identification of those who authorised the aerial kill.

The Victorian government’s attempts to keep secret the identification of veterinarians, animal welfare organisations, ethics consultants, bureaucrats - whoever was involved in authorising the killing - are a major concern. Transparency, the public’s right to know, are important issues in any democracy. There was never any attempt by government to give the public the opportunity to object to the killing.

Koalas have never been killed by marksmen in helicopters. No state or federal legislation permits this method. DEECA insists the kill was to “ humanely euthanise” burnt and starving koalas that survived a bushfire some five weeks after the fire was extinguished. Critics believe it was a cull, caused as a result of koalas fleeing into the park from nearby harvested blue gum plantations resulting in “over-population”.

Without any scientifically acceptable peer reviewed published Park koala population estimates by DEECA, with no ground-truthing after three weeks of aerial shooting, the ongoing secrecy efforts by DEECA raise many questions.

DEECA is appealing the Associate Judge’s September ruling re DEECA’s attempt to obtain a Suppression order. .

The Associate Judge did not mince words in her judgement. Here are some of the quotes from the judgement.

“ I do not accept that evidence of abuse and threats directed to individuals involved in a feral horse control program can be taken to be evidence or sufficient credible information of the risks posed to the individuals involved in this program.

“The programs are different and I am not prepared to infer that the response to the feral horse control program will be the same as the response to the subject program here.

“ I reject the defendant’s submission that the plaintiff’s social media posts and the comments to those posts amount to abuse or harassment.

“ I am not satisfied that the evidence establishes that the publication of the names of the individuals involved in the program will result in those individuals suffering psychological damage.

“ I am not satisfied that there is a proper evidentiary foundation for the Court to make the confidentiality orders sought by the defendant.”

The ongoing legal delays resulting from DEECA’s efforts to maintain secrecy over the killing have gone on for months. Delays mean the issue slips from public concern. Delays impact costs. Delays impact Australians for Animals legal challenge. Delays cost taxpayer dollars as the government fights with endless pockets against a grass roots charity.

Please consider donating to our legal fund. This is a critically important legal effort which is now historic as the Victorian Labor government attempts to set a precedent which would allow governments to make secret decisions on methods of killing wildlife.

Donations can be made to: www.givenow.com.au/koala-crisis. Grateful thanks to all our supporters !

Please remember that DEECA is monitoring all our posts. Details of which court room will be posted as soon as we know.

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