An independent expert advisory panel has been appointed to lead a review of the key Act that protects and manages Victoria’s unique wildlife.
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said the new panel is expected to undertake the most comprehensive review of the Wildlife Act 1975 since its introduction more than 45 years ago.
Ms D’Ambrosio said the review would ensure the Act kept pace with contemporary issues, changes in policy settings and community expectations.
“Front and centre to the review will be the advice provided by the independent expert advisory panel,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“The panel will engage widely with the Victorian community about what changes to the Act are necessary to establish a modern, best-practice wildlife regulatory framework,” she said.
“As part of their review, the Panel will look at how the Wildlife Act benchmarks against wildlife legislation in other jurisdictions.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said the panel would also consider whether offences and maximum penalties under the Act were appropriate to punish and deter wildlife crime.
She said the panel is to be chaired by Visiting Fellow of the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University, Deborah Peterson and it will report on its findings and recommendations by mid-2021 with community consultation with the panel opening via Engage Victoria in March.
