Two petitions calling for the Allan Labor Government to stop the expansion of National Parks in Victoria have been extended following overwhelming community demand.
More than 29,000 Victorians have now signed two e-petitions on the issue, which have been sponsored by Liberal Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham and The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath.
Mr Farnham said it was vital that local communities were given a voice and that by extending the petition it would allow more Victorians to have their say.
“Labor’s plans will exclude the traditional pursuits of thousands of Victorians and their families who regularly access our bush for camping, hunting, 4WD’ing, hiking, mountain biking, prospecting and fishing.
“The Victorian Liberal and Nationals are committed to ensuring communities can have their say about the proposed National Park areas.
“Alongside the 11,500 signatures on our e-petition in the Lower House, I have thousands more on paper petitions to be submitted also.
“By extending these petitions we are ensuring that more Victorians can tell the Allan Labor Government that they do not support their plan to lock users out from these regions.”
Ms Bath said there are over 17,500 Victorians who have already signed the Upper House e-petition that she is sponsoring on behalf of bush users – they are sending a clear message to Labor: no more new national parks.
“The Allan Labor Government’s prioritisation of green ideology focusing on a lock and leave approach, clearly shows it has zero regard for our bush users.
“Victoria’s treasured national parks are already neglected, adding more will not improve environmental outcomes or biodiversity.
“60 per cent of Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action staff operate out of metropolitan Melbourne – Labor fails to comprehend that state forests are best managed with boots, not suits.
“Labor’s environmental mismanagement has led to overgrown tracks, increased bushfire risk and a boom in invasive weeds and feral animals.
“Locking up public land is not a conservation strategy, it’s neglect.”
