Supporters expressed their dismay on the last sitting day of Victorian Parliament for the year that the government failed to table the bill, which would create the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park. Photo: Wombat Forestcare.
On the last parliamentary sitting day of the year, Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos announced a wide-ranging review of Parks Victoria, major cuts and sudden exit of the government agency’s CEO Matthew Jackson.
Last Thursday (28 November) the Victorian Government took an axe to its repeated promises of “the largest expansion to our forest reserve system in our state’s history”, which included several new national parks. Along with a review of Parks Victoria and its CEO’s departure, nature conservation groups are questioning the state’s motives.
“It’s hard to see how major cuts to funding for Parks Victoria combined with an out of the blue review meets community expectations,” said Victorian National Parks Association Executive Director Matt Ruchel.
“We are deeply concerned this is a trojan horse for dismantling hard-won nature protections.”
After touting the state’s over four million hectares of parks and reserves that attract more than 100 million visits each year, Minister Dimopoulos told the public a review of Parks Victoria must be complete as “these assets must meet the needs of Victorians for generations to come”.
“It’s clear that Parks Victoria’s current operations need to be improved to meet community expectations,” said the Environment Minister.
“The review will focus on Parks Victoria’s priorities, the delivery of its objectives under the Parks Victoria Act 2018, the organisation’s administration, finances, functions and delivery model – to identify ways the organisation reduce red tape, improve customer service, and deliver better outcomes for Victorians.”
Minister Dimopoulos said the review would be completed by March 2025 and overseen by the Victorian Government with support from Melbourne-based accounting firm Korda Mentha.
“As part of this process, Matthew Jackson, the CEO of Parks Victoria, has departed his position by mutual agreement and I wish him well.”
Despite recent independent polling, commissioned by the VNPA, showing 80 per cent of Victorians support national parks and the creation of new ones – the State Government has said it “will not be making any recommendation for large-scale changes to land tenure, including not creating any new national parks”.
VNPA claims the decision has left many bemused as comments from the State Government, as recent as last month, purport their commitment to create new central west national parks in central Victoria by the end of 2024.
“While our precious parks are enjoyed for recreation, they also have the crucial role of protecting nature,” said Mr Ruchel. “This appears to be completely lost in the scope of review.”
The conservation organisation said national parks and reserves also provided drinking water, climate resilience, community health; support livelihoods, and fulfilled international and national policy obligations. However VNPA claims it receives less than 0.5 per cent of the State Budget.
“Sufficient funding for core management must be central to the review,” said Mr Ruchel. “Biodiversity decline is in freefall and combined with recent failures to come good on enhanced protections, this review only deepens our concern.”
Replacing the outgoing Parks Victoria head is Graeme ‘Gus’ Dear, who will be stepping in as interim CEO.
Mr Dear has over three decades of experience in public and private sector administration and has served on the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) Board since its inception, most recently as chair.
The Victorian Environment Minister said his passion for the great outdoors and experience in administration meant he was the right person to help Parks Victoria change.
“His leadership will ensure Parks Victoria continues to provide accessible, enjoyable outdoor experiences while protecting and enhancing the state’s natural environment.”
