Overwhelming community demand has led to the extension of two petitions calling for the Allan Labor Government to stop the expansion of National Parks in Victoria.
The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Region Gaelle Broad said more than 29,000 Victorians had now signed two e-petitions on the issue.
“The massive number of signatures reflects widespread community concern over Labor’s proposal to seriously restrict access to our bushland,” Ms Broad said.
“Thousands of Victorians and their families regularly access our bushland for activities including fishing, camping, hunting, mountain bike riding, hiking, prospecting and even simply walking their dogs,” Ms Broad said.
“Extending the petitions will allow more Victorians to have their say and let the government know they do not support their plan to lock users out from these regions,” Ms Broad said.
“We want to send a clear message to the government: no more new national parks.”
Ms Broad said the government’s focus on green ideology and a ‘lock and leave’ approach to the bush had led to overgrown tracks, increased bushfire risk and a boom in invasive weeds and feral animals.
“Locking up more public land is not a conservation strategy, it’s neglect,” Ms Broad said.
The petitions have been sponsored by Liberal Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham in the Lower House and The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath in the Upper House.
There are more than 11,000 signatures on the Lower House e-petition and 17,700 on the Upper House petition, as well as several thousand more on paper petitions.
Ms Broad said the Victorian Liberals and Nationals were committed to allowing communities to have their voices heard on this important issue.
The petitions can be found at the following sites:
Upper House: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/stop-the-creation-of-any-new-national-parks/
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
