I will put some facts on the table. Without action, koalas are on track to be extinct in the wild by 2050, and the Government will not let that happen. As has been pointed out, the Great Koala National Park is home to 12,000 koalas, 36,000 greater gliders and over 100 other threatened species. It is one of the highest priority conservation areas in New South Wales. At the last election Labor committed to acting, and it is delivering on that commitment. We are conserving precious old growth forests and important water catchments, including the Bellingen and Nambucca water supplies.

The Government announced an additional $60 million for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to establish and manage the park, taking the total investment to $140 million. More than 100 new staff will be required at national parks to deliver enhanced fire management, feral animal and weed control, ecological rehabilitation and visitor management. The Great Koala National Park will be a key tourist destination. As the member for Coogee has pointed out, the Government is expecting the park to generate an additional 85,000 interstate and overseas visitor nights per year. That will drive an economic boost to the region of over $163 million over 20 years. The Nationals say "no thanks" to that. They have made themselves very clear.

The park will combine 176,000 hectares of State forests with existing national parkland to create a 476,000‑hectare protected area. As the good member for Coogee has pointed out, the experts and stakeholders welcome that. We have to make sure that is part of the narrative, particularly in relation to tourism and activity. If members look for those comments welcoming the landmark announcement for conservation, regional economies and recreation, they will find them. It is important to look at the historical context as well. The campaign for the park spans more than a decade. Members of the National Parks Association were the passionate local group who first kicked off the campaign for the park and undertook assessments on securing koalas in the wild. That is important to remember.

Division in the Opposition is the theme this week. The member for Coffs Harbour publicly denied that koalas were ever at risk of extinction, claimed that the park is a conspiracy and said that he will absolutely oppose the legislation, contradicting the member for Manly who has long advocated for the Great Koala National Park and has said that it is unimaginable to think of New South Wales without koalas. He also talks about habitat loss, climate change and disease driving population decline, and of the compelling economic case to end native forest logging. We want a future where koalas and threatened species are saved. We want to secure them in the wild for future generations, and the Great Koala National Park ensures koalas remain part of our natural heritage.