Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned the owners of land where dozens of koalas are understood to have died that it's not up to them to decide whether or not they have done 'the wrong thing'.
An investigation is underway by the conservation regulator and environment department and the premier says anyone found to have done the wrong thing will face a"very stern penalty".
"This is a terrible incident, it's going to be properly investigated and it won't be for those who have been involved in it to clear themselves. Plantation hardwood processing company South West Fibre has denied being responsible for the koala deaths, saying it complied with all legal obligations during its works in October.
"SWF left an appropriate number of 'habitat trees' for the existing koala population and provided details of such in a letter to the landowner noting that the koalas were uninjured and in good health."According to the company, the remaining trees have since been cleared.
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