Northern Victoria Region
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:49): (46) My question is for the Minister for Environment. Recently residents in Marysville witnessed 12 active wombat burrows on private property being bulldozed still with wombats inside. While killing of our native wombats is not illegal, filling in burrows and suffocating them to death is not an approved method of doing so. Wombats usually have multiple burrows. If notice is given, wildlife carers can humanely evict wombats using a one-way gate, and then the burrow can be immediately filled in. The Wombat Protection Society of Australia reports that this horrific disregard for our native wildlife is common practice; however, it usually happens under the cover of darkness. It was distressed locals who reported this incident initially to police, who did not assist. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action have inspected the bulldozed burrows; however, after over three months of follow-up they will not provide an update or an outcome, including whether wombats were found inside. My constituents would like to know if the minister will release information on the Marysville wombat burrow investigation.