Australian Rural & Regional News asked some questions of the Ministers and received a response from a NSW Government spokesperson. The questions and response are set out below the release.
The Hon. Chris Minns, Premier of NSW; The Hon. Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment (NSW); The Hon. Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture (NSW); The Hon. Janelle Saffin, Minister for the North Coast and Minister for Small Business (NSW), Joint Media Release, 7 September 2025
The Minns Labor Government has today confirmed the next major step delivering on an election commitment to protect koalas in the wild, announcing the proposed boundary for the Great Koala National Park, alongside a comprehensive plan to support workers, industry and local communities.
On National Threatened Species Day, the NSW Government is announcing:
- The proposed boundary for the Great Koala National Park
- An immediate temporary moratorium on timber harvesting within this proposed boundary
- A comprehensive worker and industry support package
- $6m in community and small business supports for the mid-north coast region
- An additional $60 million to establish the park.
Without action, koalas are on track to be extinct in the wild in NSW by 2050. At the last election, we promised to take action to establish the Great Koala National Park — and today we are delivering on that commitment.
The park will reserve 176,000 hectares of state forest and connect with existing national parks to create a 476,000-hectare reserve – one of the largest in NSW.
This park will protect more than 12,000 koalas, 36,000 Greater Gliders and habitat for over 100 other threatened species.
The Government has imposed a temporary moratorium effective Monday 8 September 2025 on timber harvesting within the proposed park boundary.
The NSW Government has planned carefully and will stand with affected workers, businesses and communities every step of the way.
It’s why today we are announcing comprehensive assistance for impacted business and workers.
The immediate temporary moratorium will have an impact on 6 out of more than 25 timber mills in the region and approximately 300 jobs.
Assistance includes JobKeeper-style payments to support workers by covering salaries, and also financial assistance towards business operating costs.
As well as financial payments to cover salaries, workers and their families will have immediate free access to mental health, financial and legal counselling services and training support.
The Government has contacted every impacted mill and will now commence discussions with them about their long-term options and ensure appropriate support for workers.
The Government recognises there will be challenges as the transition begins and is committed to working with local communities every step of the way.
The NSW Government has also committed $6 million to support new opportunities for tourism and small businesses on the Mid North Coast, with the package to be developed in consultation with local communities to grow jobs and investment as the Great Koala National Park is established.
An additional $60 million in funding is being announced for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to support the establishment of the park. This is in addition to the $80 million announced in 2023.
The final creation of the park is dependent on the successful registration of a carbon project under the Improved Native Forest Management Method, which is currently moving through the Federal Government assessment processes.
Today’s announcement follows extensive consultation with industry and community stakeholders and a comprehensive expert assessment process.
The Government thanks everyone involved for their input and patience during this process.
The Great Koala National Park will not end forestry on the North Coast. The Independent Forestry Panel is continuing to provide advice to the Government to inform the Forestry Industry Action Plan.
Information is available online, via www.nsw.gov.au/greatkoalanationalpark.
Quote attributable to Premier of NSW, Chris Minns:
“Koalas are at risk of extinction in the wild in NSW – that’s unthinkable. The Great Koala National Park is about turning that around.
“We’ve listened carefully and we’re making sure workers, businesses and communities are supported every step of the way.”
Quote attributable to Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:
“The Great Koala National Park has been a dream for more than a decade. It will ensure koalas survive into the future so our grandchildren will still be able to see them in the wild.
“These amazing old-growth forests are among the world’s top biodiversity hotspots – home to more than 100 threatened species including greater gliders, the powerful owl and yellow-bellied gliders.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty:
“Our government’s priority is to fully support impacted workers with payments and services during this major change.
“That is why we will provide financial assistance to businesses we know will be impacted, so they can continue to pay their staff’s salaries and cover costs.
“We are committed to a sustainable forestry industry in NSW.”
Quote attributable to Minister for the North Coast and Minister for Small Business, Janelle Saffin:
“We are delivering on our election promise to deliver the Great Koala National Park for the North Coast.
“This will deliver the protection of our most precious and loved species, our koalas, that everyone in NSW wants to see protected; and the Greater Koala National Park will also provide an economic boon for locals and businesses alike.
“It is important to work together to ensure no one is left behind. We will be supporting impacted workers, businesses, communities and industry to maximise opportunities as we deliver the Great Koala National Park.
“I am committed to ensure that our forest workers and small business forest operators are supported economically and emotionally through this change.”
Questions from Australian Rural & Regional News
Australian Rural & Regional News asked the following questions of the Ministers and received a response from a NSW Government spokesperson.
ARR.News: You have provided no evidence for the founding premise that koala numbers in the area of the proposed Great Koala National Park are in decline, no evidence that timber harvesting adversely impacts on koala numbers overall and no realistic plan to prevent the area and all its biodiversity, including koalas and Greater Gliders, being decimated by bushfire.
1. Why has the Government apparently ignored the research of its own expert, Brad Law, which indicates that koala numbers are not in decline and that logging does not impact koala numbers negatively?
2. What precise steps will the Government be taking to ensure that the National Parks and Wildlife Service properly maintains the GKNP and actively manages the forest as the forestry industry has done in order to prevent bushfires and actively takes steps to control feral animals and invasive pests and weeds?
3. From where will future hardwood supplies be obtained?
4. Where are the funds to develop the new tourism industries which you say will create replacement jobs and business opportunities?
5. What compensation will be provided to workers and to businesses impacted by this decision? Surely the $6m mentioned is not the sum total?
6. Currently campers, trail bike riders and others that are usually banned from national parks are able to enter state forests. Will they be able to use the GKNP?
NSW Government spokesperson:
“The Great Koala National Park will deliver the most significant conservation protection in NSW in recent memory.
“A moratorium on timber harvesting in the proposed boundaries of the 176,000 hectares GKNP of state forest is now in place. This means harvesting operations have ceased within those boundaries, and no new operations will commence.
“Contracts to supply hardwood sourced from state forests outside the GKNP will continue for the approximately 20 mills in the region that are not impacted by the moratorium.
“The Minns Government has a comprehensive plan being rolled out to support workers and businesses covering timber mills, harvest and haulage that includes Jobkeeper style payments to ensure impacted workers maintain their salary during the moratorium.
“All impacted workers will received education and training payments and the Rural Financial Counselling Services is available to provide free and independent advice.
“The Government recognises this is a hard time for those people impacted by the moratorium and that is why workers and their families can access free and confidential mental health services 24/7.
“Training Services NSW will be on the ground offering advice on training to bridge skills gaps and helping to identify suitable job opportunities
“Further details about the $6 million Community Benefits Package will be announced soon and it is in addition to the funding for supporting impacted workers and businesses.
“The Minns Government is committed to investing in economic development for the region to develop new opportunities.
“Recently we announced an $11.5 million investment in six job creation projects from the Government’s Regional Development Trust to boost economic activity.
“Background
“Regarding land management:
- “When the land is declared a national park, the National Parks and Wildlife Service will apply a strategic, risk-based approach to deliver best practice invasive species management to reduce the impacts of feral animals and weeds, with a focus on threatened species conservation.
- The National Parks and Wildlife Service undertakes significant invasive species control, removing 75,000 feral animals in 2024–25.
- Hazard reduction is central to the NPWS Fire Management Program. NPWS delivers over 75% of all hazard reduction burns across NSW, working closely with other agencies.
- More than 100 new staff will be recruited with NPWS to deliver fire management, feral animal and weed control, ecological rehabilitation and visitor management.
- In addition to this, NPWS has access to more than 1,000 trained firefighters and develops fire management strategies in consultation with other fire agencies and neighbours.
“Regarding use of GKNP:
- “NSW national parks provide a wealth of camping opportunities and can be accessed by 4WDs and trail bikes.
- NPWS engaged with existing state forest user groups, including recreational users and commercial operators, during the assessment period for the Great Koala National Park.”
Related stories: Great Koala National Park; koala; Open for Debate – Koalas.
