Tuesday, 2 May 2023

Northern Victoria Region

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (14:18): (125) My question is for the Minister for Environment. After engaging landholders in Corryong, it has been brought to my attention that local farmers have an enormous task in the continual eradication of noxious weeds. Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, these practices are necessary in order to comply with state biosecurity regulations. They come at both great financial expense and energy. In some cases, farmers’ efforts to mitigate the spread of invasive weeds and seeds are being hampered by a lack of reciprocated effort from the state to fulfil its obligations within state parks. These seeds can and do dry out and spread in unfavourable winds if left unattended. My question is: can the minister assure constituents in the north that if they spray weeds on fence lines bordering state parks, the state government will maintain its responsibility to do the same?