“Flouting new nature laws”: Drone captures potentially illegal QLD deforestation days after new federal nature laws took effect

Troubling new drone footage has revealed that more than 150 hectares of threatened species’ habitat near Chinchilla in Western Downs Queensland was bulldozed just days after new federal environment laws passed parliament in late 2025. 

The mature, regrown forest shown to be bulldozed in the footage was destroyed by big beef business to make way for beef production. The forest was over 15 years old, and is mapped by the Federal government as likely habitat for several endangered species including the koala, greater glider and Australian Painted Snipe.

Under federal nature law reforms introduced in late 2025 taking immediate effect, clearing forest or bushland that has not been cleared for 15 years or more requires mandatory federal government assessment. In this instance, despite the vegetation meeting the age threshold and the mapped threatened species habitat destroyed, it appears that no referral was made to the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 

As consultation on new National Environmental Standards, a key part of the nature reform package, drew to a close last week, the Wilderness Society says the destruction of this regenerated and functioning ecosystem is a “confronting reminder of why Australia’s national nature law needs teeth to deal with Australia’s deforestation crisis”.

Hannah Schuch, QLD Campaigns Manager for the Wilderness Society, said, “Before the ink has even dried, the beef industry is already flouting Australia’s new nature laws.

“Now that consultation on National Environmental Standards has closed, the ball is in the Albanese government’s court as Parliament returns this week to ensure nature, from the Brigalow forests of Central Queensland to mulga woodlands and Mitchell Grasslands to open tropical savannas, is actually protected.

“Without robust enforcement and compliance, Australia’s nature laws will be an engine without fuel - full of potential, but unable to get the job done.”

This extensive bulldozing also takes place as the Crusifulli Government prepares the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy. 

“To ensure the future health of the iconic Queensland koala, the Crisafulli Government must expand the Koala Strategy beyond the Southeast. Deforestation right across Queensland is the number one threat to our state’s koala population so the Government’s new Koala Strategy must apply to the species's full distribution. We know beef is the number one driver of deforestation. To stop at the border of Southeast Queensland would only cement the koala's fate of extinction.”