Labor says Port Stephens Koala Hospital would be able to help more of the endangered animals under the Opposition's plan to help fund its operations over the next four years.
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Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and shadow environment minister Penny Sharpe announced on Wednesday that a NSW Labor government would spend $2 million on the koala hospital's ongoing operations over the next parliamentary term.
The two politicians toured the koala hospital and met two patients, female joey Rose and adult male Kyrie, which had survived brushes with death.
A Wards River farmer rescued Rose after she was picked up then dropped by a wedge-tailed eagle, and Kyrie lost a toe escaping the Mambo Wetland bushfire near Salamander Bay last year.
The Coalition state government helped build the koala hospital with a $3 million grant in 2019, and Labor announced before the 2022 federal election that it would provide $3 million to extend the hospital and provide staff for a breeding program.
"The Port Stephens Koala Hospital is helping to secure the Port Stephens koala population by caring for and rehabilitating sick and injured koalas to give them the best chance of returning to the wild," Ms Sharpe said.
"This funding will help them continue their important work."
Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
