The Koala Alliance recognises the need to educate our politicians, at all levels of government and from all parties, of the risks facing koalas and the solutions available to ensure their survival in the wild.

We advocate for koalas through a diverse range of strategic approaches. This includes public campaigns and direct engagement with politicians to place koalas firmly on the political agenda and draw attention to both current and emerging issues. We represent koalas at rallies and public events, and systematically collect evidence to inform and strengthen our work.

In addition, we develop well-researched submissions designed to influence policy and drive meaningful change, while delivering educational initiatives that raise awareness and empower our community.

Central to our approach is a commitment to truth, grounded in evidence and rigorous inquiry. We actively engage with wildlife carers, rescuers, researchers, policymakers, and experts in related fields who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise for the greater good. We recognise that knowledge shared across diverse communities is powerful, and that bringing together different perspectives and experiences broadens the scope of our inquiries and strengthens our impact.

Koala Alliance Writes To UNESCO Regarding The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape’s World Heritage Status

Our correspondence to UNESCO advised the World Heritage Committee of a grave ecological and ethical crisis, as a result of the arial cull of 1,061 koalas at Budj Bim National Park, part of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. We highlight several critical issues that fall under the responsibility of the State Party (the Australian Government) and the subnational entity (the Victorian Government):

We have raised concerns regarding the lack of an adequately managed buffer zone. The park is surrounded by extensive blue gum plantations that serve as temporary refuges for koalas and other wildlife. Rapid logging at boundaries forces displaced wildlife into the Budj Bim National Park, pushing the population beyond its sustainable carrying capacity.

Koala Alliance has requested UNESCO consider a Monitoring Mission, because the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is proving ineffective at managing these threats despite previous government claims that formal buffer zones were unnecessary.

UNESCO has been informed that the organisation Australians for Animals is currently taking the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to court to challenge the legality and ethics of these shootings.

The Australian Government argued with the 2017 nomination that the property enjoyed “comprehensive legal protection at the highest national level” under the EPBC Act. UNESCO international oversight and review is needed as those protections have failed.

We look forward to a future where the management of Budj Bim National Park and Cultural Landscape aligns with the world-class heritage standards the Australian public and the international community expect.

Read our UNESCO correspondence here. Koala Alliance included our report investigating the 2025 Aerial Culling at Budj Bim National Park– Aerial shooting of koalas should not be allowed to happen ever again.

Koalas Are Dying For Us To Slow Down

Up to 10 million animals are killed on Australian roads every year. This is a staggering statistic that only accounts for animals that have been reported. More needs to be done to mitigate wildlife road deaths and one strategy could be to change the way we communicate with drivers.

Regional roads currently use simple, static wildlife signs in an attempt to reduce the wildlife death toll. These signs are permanent and rarely offer any helpful information to drivers. Research suggests that these signs have little to no impact on driver behaviour, because drivers have become habituated to these types of signs, and make no difference to wildlife.

In New South Wales, road trauma is recognised as a major threat to koala survival. As part of its koala management strategy, the Department of Environment and Heritage has installed variable message signage across the state to alert drivers and reduce road strikes.

In Victoria, koalas face the same dangers. Data collected by Wildlife Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Koalas, Friends of the Earth, and the Koala Alliance consistently identify road trauma as one of the leading causes of koala deaths.

In partnership with koala rescuers around the state, we have compiled this initial list of road strike ‘hot spots’ requiring immediate action. Installing evidence-based solutions such as Variable Message Signs (VMS) and/or road surface markings at these locations will be a positive action to help mitigate risks and reduce koala fatalities.

Koala Alliance is calling for dynamic signage at all koala traffic hotspots, because koalas are dying for us all to slow down. 

The submissions that the Koala Alliance has made to the Victorian government includes: