In one of the most shameful acts of state-approved wildlife destruction in recent memory, over 700 koalas have been shot dead from helicopters in Victoria’s Budj Bim National Park.

These were injured, displaced survivors of fire — and instead of being rescued, they were slaughtered from above in a cull authorised by the Victorian Government.

This happened under the leadership of Premier Jacinta Allan and Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos.

There was no public consultation.
No transparency.
No accountability.

This is not conservation. It is cruelty.

🔥 What Really Happened

Since March, DEECA has overseen the aerial culling of koalas in the fire-affected Budj Bim area. But rather than support wildlife rescue or rehabilitation, they opted for aerial gunfire — a violent response condemned by experts and the community alike.

There is no precedent for this.
There is no excuse for this.

And the responsibility lies squarely with the Premier and Minister for the Environment, who approved the policies that led to this bloodshed.

🖊️ Call on Jacinta Allan and Steve Dimopoulos to end aerial killing now – sign the petition.

📍 Why Budj Bim Matters

Budj Bim is a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to irreplaceable habitat and cultural history. It’s also home to one of the last remaining strongholds of koalas in southwest Victoria.

What happened here is a warning. If it can happen in a place like Budj Bim, it can happen anywhere.

🧒 Suffering Behind the Statistics

What’s missing from the government’s official statements?
The truth.

• Were joeys orphaned and left to die?

• Were injured koalas given a chance to recover?

• Why weren’t wildlife rescuers called in?

• Where is the footage? Where are the ethics?

This was an act of policy violence, not conservation. And it was signed off by the very people who claim to protect Victoria’s environment.

✊ What We’re Demanding

The Animal Justice Party is calling for:

• 🚫 A permanent ban on aerial culling

• 🔍 A full, independent review of DEECA’s wildlife operations

• 🪵 A halt to logging around Budj Bim

• 🚑 Immediate funding for trained wildlife response teams

• 🌿 A real conservation plan, backed by law and science — not spin

📢 It’s time for Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister Steve Dimopoulos to show leadership — or step aside. Sign the petition.

🧭 Final Word: Accountability Starts at the Top

This happened under their watch.
They had the power to stop it.
They chose not to.

🖊️ Add your name to demand accountability and compassion. Tell Premier Allan and Minister Dimopoulos: this must never happen again.