Taking a break from blocking political progress, three rat-like staffers joined the Australia Koala Foundation’s (AKF) Chair Deborah Tabart OAM for a bite of lunch on the lawns of Parliament House today, Wednesday 14 August.
In true blue Aussie fashion, the AKF is trying to open dialogue about a serious topic – the survival of the iconic koala – with a touch of humour. Highlighting the bureaucratic and political roadblocks that threatened the survival of koalas, they have introduced the public to The Mischief (the plural for rats).
Prudence (who approves laws), Tony (the government policy writer), and Stuart (who works in logging) represent the bureaucratic maze and political rhetoric that stands in the way of urgent legislative action. Each character is a satirical take on individuals that the AKF have come across while fighting to save our native fauna.
Rather than keeping them hidden away where they can nibble away at democracy, Ms Tabart wants to bring the rodents out into the open – and she plans to introduce us to more. Today’s event is just a warm-up for The Koala Army’s March for Creatures Great and Small on 1 September.
Puddles of platypus, mobs of emus, wisdoms of wombats, and crackles of cockatoos will make their way from Kings Park to Parliament House to call on political leaders to do more to protect our animals and their habitats. Everyone is invited to join dressed as their favourite Australian that call koala forests home – bilbies, bees, echidnas, koalas and more.
“The Tasmanian tiger will be here at the march to remind us that things do go to extinction,” says Ms Tabart. “There is something like 300 mammals, I don’t know how many birds, how many aquatic species.”
The march will be a celebration of our native wildlife and a demonstration that the public want the Koala Protection Act as much as the AKF does. For the past 36 years, Ms Tabart has been working towards legislation that focuses on protecting the koala habitat.
“In the koala forests of Australia, which is 20 per cent of the continent, the species we could save from just protecting those forests alone would be millions… The koala is in trouble, it is listed as endangered, the next place to go is critically endangered, after that is extinction.”
Now dealing with her 15th Minister for the Environment, Tanya Plibersek, Ms Tabart says her letters have gone unanswered. She says the biggest obstacle to getting the legislation past has been the likes of Prudence, Tony, and Stuart whispering in the ears of political leaders, to get the industries what they want.
“I am so outraged,” Ms Tabart says. “I used to come here every six months and report this is what happening, the last three environment ministers don’t even open the door for you. Now, I don’t give a rats because I know the truth, I want our Australian public and the world public to know… We exploit the natural environment and don’t give anything back.
Ms Tabart implores those in the mining and logging industries to go about their business and protect our animals at the same time. However, she says it is time that industries damaging our natural landscapes were brought to account for their actions.
“It is not going to stop industry. Industry is just glad they can go to Prudence and make sure that nothing gets in the way. When we get a Koala Protection Act, life is going to still go on, it is just that these people will have to do things properly. I believe at the moment they are doing it improperly and causing great damage to our country and our economy.”
Dear Prudence, open up your eyes
CD asked Prudence why she seemed to be closing the door on discussions with Ms Tabart.
“I’m certainly open to discussion,” says Prudence. “I think that what is very important to note is that I don’t make the laws, I help to uphold them. I have to answer to other people, I don’t hold any power, I would say.”
Stuart remained adamant that logging is a sustainable industry in Australia.
“Being sustainable is definitely one of the goals of the current state of the world,” says Stuart. “I believe being able to log all the trees we need will be very good for our economy, building houses, and looking after us because human life comes first.”
Tony, who was taking a break from his document writing, wanted to stay out of the way.
“I write the documents, and I try and get them passed through, but then Prudence keeps telling me to remove some bits like protecting the koalas because they aren’t important, I guess. I don’t want to make waves, so we will just put it through anyway. I’ve got to look after my family, I’ve got to look after myself.”
Ms Tabart’s and AKF’s goal is simple: they want to speak the truth for all species that they have seen harmed by inaction and lack of legislation.
“The koala is one of the most iconic animals in the world; let’s agree it is the cutest,” Ms Tabart said. “It doesn’t trample on crops, it doesn’t eat, and it brings in billions of dollars worth of tourist dollars. Even on an economic level, protecting these trees and their homes is a no-brainer. Spiritually, can we imagine our country without cockatoos, without our birds?”
Join The Koala Army’s March for Creatures Great and Small at King’s Park on Sunday 1 September, 10am: savethekoala.com/koala-army
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