Nature can’t afford more cuts | Protect nature in Victoria

Nature can’t afford more cuts

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CC Premier Jacinta Allan, Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos, Finance Minister Danny Pearson, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and Shadow Environment Minister Nick McGowan,

I am alarmed at the Victorian Government’s move to gut and hollow out key nature institutions. These cuts will seriously impact Victoria’s capacity to protect nature.

Please retain and support these institutions that protect our landscapes, wildlife and habitats.

I am very concerned that, in the government response to Independent Review of the Victorian Public Service (the Silver Review):

• Over 300 staff, many from the biodiversity section of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, are being cut.
• The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC), a long-standing environmental institution (over 50 years) that provides expert advice, investigation and recommendations on the use of public land, will largely be abolished. It was not even mentioned in the recently completed Silver Review.
• The standalone Victorian Marine and Coastal Council, which provides advice on marine and coastal issues and produce the Marine and Coastal Strategy, will be cut. 
• Important advisory committees such as the National Parks Advisory Committee, Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) for Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and many others are being reviewed, their future uncertain. Removing the SAC would make the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, our state threatened species laws, largely dysfunctional and meaningless.

Cutting VEAC before they have finished assessing public land across Victoria is a short-sighted and misguided attempt to find small budget gains, at the cost of much-needed nature protection. VEAC has played a key role in assessing, designing and making recommendations for millions of hectares of our much-loved national parks. But there are still many gaps in our protected area network to fill so Victoria can reach national and international benchmarks.

Fisheries officers, our marine protectors, have already been gutted. Now, the Victorian Government is abolishing the Marine and Coastal Council, a critical voice that advises the Environment Minister on safeguarding our oceans and marine life. At a time when Victoria can least afford to lose expert guidance on protecting our marine habitats and addressing the impacts of climate disruption on our coastline. Their work is far from finished, with a new Marine and Coastal Strategy due in 2027.

Our natural areas and national parks are the foundation for Victoria’s culture, wellbeing and lifestyle and are being put at risk by these decisions.

The latest Victorian State of the Environment Report 2024 reported continued deterioration of Victoria’s habitats and wildlife. One quarter to one third of Victoria’s terrestrial plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, along with many invertebrates and ecological communities, are considered threatened with extinction. Of the 40 biodiversity indicators, over 80 per cent were assessed as poor or unknown.

In the scheme of our state budget, these institutions are a drop in the ocean. But their benefit to nature is immeasurable. We need independent advice from experts and robust planning for nature conservation to properly look after nature in Victoria.

Please protect our habitats and wildlife by retaining and supporting these vital institutions and opposing the changes in legislation - Entities Legislation Amendment (Consolidation and Other Matters) Bill 2025.

Nature can't afford these cuts.

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