Tuesday, 14 May 2024

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (13:05): (846) My constituency question is for the Minister for Environment. There are currently 30-tonne machines destroying native habitats to salvage logs in the Wombat State Forest. In 2021 the government responded to the central west investigation, accepting most of its recommendations to protect Wombat State Forest. They include expansion of the Lerderderg State Park, new conservation parks in Daylesford and the Cobaw State Forest and a substantial addition to Hepburn and Macedon regional parks. I am sure no-one is surprised to hear that none of this has happened. In fact we are now experiencing the longest delay in the legislating of parks following a government response in the past 30 years. Nearly three years after the investigation northern Victorians are still waiting for their promised parks as salvage operations continue. My constituents want to know when the government will legislate new and expanded protections in the Wombat State Forest.