Tuesday, 16 June 2026

 Ella GEORGE (Lara) (19:02): (1700) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy and Resources. The action that I seek from the minister is to exempt all land within the Brisbane Ranges National Park from future mining exploration. This park is incredibly valuable for its natural environment. The Brisbane Ranges are home to Victoria’s richest wildflower habitat. There are plants there that have long disappeared from other parts of the state. Nearby the Steiglitz Historic Park is a unique reminder of Victoria’s gold rush history, with sites and landscapes that have been preserved for generations.

I recently met with a number of community members from the Lara electorate who are concerned about the impact of potential mining activities, which could threaten the integrity of the environmentally significant Brisbane Ranges National Park and the historically significant Steiglitz Historic Park, causing irreversible damage and undermining their value for future generations. Once lost, these sites and the stories that they hold cannot be replaced. It is important that the state government act now to ensure the ongoing protection of the Brisbane Ranges National Park from activities that may compromise its historical, cultural and environmental significance.