Friday, 28 August 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:53): (2570) My question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Koala breeding season is fast approaching, and koalas will be increasingly on the move. This includes areas surrounding the Calder Freeway in Macedon and Woodend, where koalas continue to be struck and killed by vehicles. Wildlings Woodend Wildlife Shelter is no stranger to responding to injured koalas at all times of the day and all throughout the night. Sadly, more often than not, they are left to euthanise koalas suffering catastrophic injuries. The shelter has repeatedly sought confirmation about whether fencing along the Calder Freeway will be maintained, but they have been unable to obtain a response. Given the known presence of koalas along this corridor, will the minister commit to maintaining the wildlife fencing along the Calder Freeway and also trialling electronic wildlife warning signage during periods of heightened koala movement?