Thursday, 6 February 2025

 David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:50): Here in Victoria it is very difficult to do good things, and I do not mean things that you think are good, like your hobbies, although this can also be true. What I am talking about here are things that are universally good: the uncontroversial, politically nonpartisan charitable deeds that ordinary Victorians do every day. Over the past couple of months I have met with several people and organisations that have been inspired to do some good in the world, only to be met with nonsensical rules and bureaucratic bullies doing everything they can to prevent them. Roy, who invested his own money and time to create a wildlife sanctuary, has the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action insisting that he allow the critically endangered animals on his property to be exposed to predation. Lydia, who set up an organisation to tutor homeschoolers, school refusers and neurodiverse kids to ensure they still receive a quality education, is also battling bureaucracy. And Kelly from Narre Warren, who founded a charity to provide food relief – local planning rules are preventing her from properly using her property. These are just the recent examples that I am aware of, but the theme seems universal. Everywhere I go I meet people that are truly inspiring, seeing some problem in the world and doing their best to solve it. The government needs to get out of the way, stop creating a maze of red tape and let people do good.