Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am a proud member of the Australian Wombat Foundation. This organisation does wonderful work in helping to bring back from the brink of extinction the northern hairy-nosed wombat.

The northern hairy-nosed wombat is one of the world's most endangered species; in fact, it is even more endangered than the panda. The persistent work carried out by the Australian Wombat Foundation, however, is paying off. In the 1980s there were as few as 35 wombats remaining on the planet—all at Epping Forest National Park in Central Queensland. However, since the foundation established a second population in southern Queensland in 2009, the population has grown exponentially. The combined wombat population of the two sites is now estimated at more than 200 wombats.

Such wonderful results could not have been achieved without the help of Roz and Kev, who run Australia's first specialist wombat hospital. Currently only able to care for 25 wombats at one time, Roz aims to save even more and work towards more manage-free areas in the future. To facilitate this plan, however, an on-site digital x-ray machine is needed to ensure the animals avoid the stress suffered in transportation to the clinic.

I encourage all Australians to join the foundation in order to help save the iconic northern hairy-nosed wombats. I know that the students of Fig Tree Pocket State School, who are in the gallery this afternoon, share my cause.