Tuesday, 17 February 2026

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (14:10): My question is to the Minister for Planning. On Sunday I joined around 200 local residents at a community rally at Fort Queenscliff, organised by Senator Sarah Henderson, opposing the Commonwealth government’s plan to sell this nationally significant heritage site following an ADF asset review. Fort Queenscliff is part of the history and identity of the Bellarine Peninsula and is covered by Victoria’s planning, heritage and coastal management framework. The community is now establishing a taskforce, led by the Borough of Queenscliffe mayor, to lobby for the site to remain in public hands and accessible for cultural, education and tourism use. Will the minister commit to supporting the Queenscliff community’s advocacy to the federal government, including by clearly and publicly articulating Victoria’s planning, heritage and public interest expectations for Fort Queenscliff and opposing any outcome that risks inappropriate development or loss of public access?