Tuesday, 2 June 2026

 Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (14:35): (1332) My question is for the Minister for Environment. Minister, the deer population has grown to over a million, and they are devastating native forests across much of the state. Why are deer still listed as a protected species in Victoria?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:35): I thank Ms Copsey for her question and her interest in our deer management strategy. I will note that we are working to make deer control more effective through strong science and research, as guided by the Victorian Deer Control Strategy. I recommend everyone get a copy of that strategy. Escalating deer populations is a major and complex challenge across the state. We do know that there is a biodiversity challenge, and our approach on this issue is clear and pragmatic: given the scale and distribution of deer across Victoria, statewide eradication is not the goal. Instead we are focused on reducing the impacts of deer where they matter most – protecting high-value environmental, agricultural and community assets. Deer management is an important shared responsibility, with government working in close partnership alongside public agencies, private landowners, traditional owners and the broader community to deliver effective outcomes. Our government supports the safe and regulated use of hunting as an important management tool, and as I stated earlier the deer management strategy is the lead in this.

The classification of certain deer species as game under the Wildlife Act 1975 does not prevent control when deer are causing damage on public or private land, and land managers no longer require an authority-to-control-wildlife to manage deer – except for hog deer, that is – subject to conditions under the relevant orders, and controls remain available to public and private land managers using both recreational and professional management methods where deer impacts are significant. Therefore I reject the broad premise that it is not possible to manage deer. It is, and therefore they are not a protected species.

 Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (14:37): Minister, you would be well aware that we need to cut the population of deer by at least 35 per cent per year in order to stop it from increasing further. What percentage of population reduction was achieved for deer through the government’s programs last year?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:37): I thank Ms Copsey for her supplementary question. We are working to make deer control more effective through strong science and research as guided by the strategy. This includes investing in research of deer populations and their impacts, improving monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and ensuring that decisions are guided by robust, evidence-based data. Importantly, our strategy aims to reduce risks to public safety and to better protect native ecosystems and threatened species from ongoing damage. Our long-term vision is simple but ambitious – that deer no longer cause significant harm to Victoria’s environment, to agriculture or to community wellbeing.

Katherine Copsey: On a point of order, President, with 30 seconds remaining, I ask that the minister answer the question that I posed.

The PRESIDENT: I will call on the minister, but as far as the level of detail goes, the expectation for the minister to have that off the cuff would, I imagine, be problematic.

Enver ERDOGAN: I appreciate your guidance. In relation to the specifics in terms of the number, as I said, one of our goals is to collect better data in relation to this. It is a science-led approach. If there is anything I can further provide, I am happy to provide that, Ms Copsey.