Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (18:47): (2636) My adjournment this evening is for the Minister for Environment, and the action I seek is for the minister to finally make the announcement surrounding the spring firewood collection season, which he promised back in May. On 13 May, in questions without notice, I asked the minister to allow my constituents to collect deadfall firewood from state parks and forests. The minister responded with:

We cannot open it all up. I know that some may feel that that is logical; that is actually risky. It puts the community at risk as well. We are going to do that response in a balanced way. Just look out for further announcements before winter.

Now, to me, the contempt for my constituents in northern Victoria held by this minister is palpable. People in the regions are not stupid. They know how to safely retrieve firewood from firewood collection areas; they just need areas to collect it from. As to the mentioned announcements, we have heard nothing – crickets. There is no word on where northern Victorians can collect firewood over the spring season to keep themselves warm. In the winter season there are very few places in my region for free firewood collection. Every winter I have raised the issue of the lack of firewood collection points in my region. Every winter my constituents watch the deadfall stack up on forest floors, potentially causing access issues and the risk of fires. Minister, the action I seek is for you to finally make the announcement surrounding the spring firewood collection season, which you promised back in May.