Conservationists have written their own legislation to protect koalas. 

The Australian Koala Foundation wants the Commonwealth to adopt tougher laws to protect koala habitat. 

Koalas have been deemed endangered across much of the east coast, except Victoria. Despite this, koalas have been found dead or incinerated in several separate incidents in south-west Victoria in recent weeks. 

The Australian Koala Foundation says it has lobbied 14 federal environment ministers over 33 years for change, but has now resorted to writing its own legislation to give to the government.

The foundation's chair, Deborah Tabart, says new Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has received a copy of the proposed changes.

“To be frank, I think it scares both sides of politics because it really gets to the nub of the issue,” Ms Tabart told the ABC.

“The act automatically says; ‘If this is koala habitat then you can't touch it’ - and the only way you can touch it is if you prove that your activity is benign, which I think if you are a responsible industry you could do.”

“The bottom line is our government has said that koalas are endangered and in Victoria and South Australia the hospitals on the ground are still getting injured animals.

“So do we not care about the welfare of this species, even though we're prepared to put it on every single tourism brochure in the whole planet?”

A spokesperson for Ms Plibersek says a decade of neglect under the Coalition created the current situation.

“We are determined to take real action to stem the decline,” the spokesperson said.

“Sadly, koalas are currently listed as endangered in the ACT, NSW, and Queensland.

“These listings are based on expert advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.”

Ms Plibersek has not commented personally.