Wednesday, 19 June 2024

 Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:26): I rise to update the house on the Allan Labor government’s commitment to protecting and enhancing Victoria’s natural environment. Our most recent budget puts our money where our mouth is. We are delivering $609 million for environment-related issues, which takes our total investment since 2015–16 to $4.8 billion.

Through the container deposit scheme, we have lifted nearly 600 million containers from our streets, waterways and parks. By the time I finish this statement, it will probably be another million. Through BushBank, community landowners and the government are restoring 20,000 hectares of habitat and vegetation. By establishing the Great Outdoors Taskforce and providing a budget of $115 million for our forests, we are looking for ways to fund more recreational, tourism and environmental opportunities for the community and future generations of Victorians. We have also put 10 million fish back into our waterways just this year.

What is the next logical step? Most people would expect us to do more of what we are currently doing, but not the Liberal–National coalition – not that one-trick pony. They would have us install nuclear reactors right through Victoria. Nuclear is nothing but a threat to Victoria’s energy security and environment. Nuclear energy is too slow to keep the lights on, too expensive to build and too risky for Australia’s future energy needs. It will also result in higher power bills.

This topic reminds me of Blinky. Do you know Blinky in The Simpsons, the three-eyed fish? Imagine little Blinkys swimming right through Victoria’s rivers and waterways. Imagine little Blinkys, disfigured because of the nuclear reactor. That will not happen under an Allan Labor government, but we can never be sure under a government the Liberal–National coalition lead, with their secret plans with their federal counterparts for nuclear reactors. You can never guarantee there will not be Blinkys populating Victorian waterways.