Serious questions have more recently been raised about government policy and koala protection on the northern edge of the Gold Coast.

Last month, the Queensland government named a taskforce to try to protect koalas in south-east Queensland, while issues such as land clearing for housing were debated.

The Senate committee meeting in Brisbane is investigating the extinction of Australian fauna.

Senate committee chair, Victorian Greens senator Janet Rice, inspected Cleveland Harbour on Thursday ahead of public hearings in Queensland’s Speaker’s Hall at Parliament House in George Street.

Development company Walker Group plans to build 3600 apartments at a completely remodelled Toondah Harbour at Cleveland, where ferries travel across to North Stradbroke Island.

She said she wanted to hear evidence from a range of groups and organisations.

Senator Rice said the debate about Toondah Harbour raised questions about the effectiveness of Australia’s environment laws.

“The Commonwealth issues involved in this are whether our Commonwealth environment laws are sufficient to be protecting the habitat which is so significant for a whole range of migratory birds, which includes the critically endangered eastern curlew," she said.

The Senate committee will also hear submissions from University of Queensland koala expert Frank Carrick and conservationist Sue Arnold, who have both criticised the Queensland and federal government's koala conservation policy.

Ms Arnold in 2018 threatened to take the Queensland government to court for slow pace of koala conservation reform leading to “politically expedient” extinction of koalas in south-east Queensland.

The Senate environment committee is concerned at the impact of the loss of habitat on Australian fauna.

Australia has lost 25 per cent of its rainforest, 45 per cent of its open forest, 32 per cent of its woodland forest and 30 per cent of mallee forest in 200 years while its population has grown to 24.7 million by 2018.

In Queensland over the past four years, more than 1.2 million hectares of forest and bushland were cleared, the Wilderness Society said.

The inquiry received 411 submissions, including 78 from organisations, government and individuals in Queensland.