Wednesday, 1 May 2024

VicForests

Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (10:21): VicForests is a government body under the State Owned Enterprises Act 1992. Its staff are all public servants, and they have been treated appallingly by this government, some government departments and organisations and various environmental groups. I am upset and offended that the state Labor government has not stood up publicly to defend these men and women who are only doing their job. They are specialists in their professions in a range of fields, from environmental and forest scientists to ecologists, policy and compliance officers and research and modelling analysts. They have been the subject of vile social media and dreadful slurs and threats. This government has been silent in their defence.

They and the industry are passionate about what they do, and they have been vilified personally and professionally. They have had to bear the brunt of militant protestors when all they have been doing is their job, and they have been doing it under enormous negative pressure for a long period of time. They have not been allowed to respond to the abuse thrown their way by allowing misinformation and a one-sided agenda to be the only voice and opinion heard.

The government has sat back and allowed this vitriol to continue and has done nothing, which is unacceptable. No other public servant has had to cop this level of abuse. VicForests will cease operating at the end of June, and staff have heard nothing from the minister or any other minister. They have not been recognised or thanked for their service of over 20 years. If any other department were treated like this, there would be an outcry.