Wilsons Promontory National Park
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (18:26): (1453) I thank Mrs McArthur for her excellent adjournment debate – right on the money there, Mrs McArthur. My adjournment debate this evening is for the Minister for Environment, and it relates to a place that is very near and dear to my heart and to so many thousands of other Victorians as well – Wilsons Promontory. Labor announced a review into Parks Victoria in November 2024, saying the review was needed to meet community expectations. Victorians are paying taxes to this state government to manage our environment, control our weeds and pests, protect biodiversity and our native flora and fauna and actively manage our national parks. Now, the minister inherited this down the line and inherited some shocking decisions made by former environment minister Minister D’Ambrosio, however Victorian national parks are being mismanaged by the Allan Labor government and are falling victim to green ideology and budget cuts, which we have seen in recent times with a $95 million budget cut from Parks Victoria and the hundred frontline jobs, and indeed services, services, services are being cut. Now, you only have to go down to Wilsons Promontory to see that there is tired, old infrastructure there; in fact the toilet near the Prom ‘shop is about as old as I am, and the disabled toilet is locked. The Tidal River footbridge that links campers and all-day visitors to Pillar Point and Tidal Overlook has been shut, and Sealers Cove walk has been shut for 3½ years and is still on the list to be opened up. Victorians are paying the price for higher taxes and yet Parks Victoria is receiving less.
I and my constituents were both astounded to see Parks Victoria and the People and Parks Foundation have actually been appealing for donations to establish the Prom Sanctuary under the guise of a charity listed by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. $800,000 has been raised to date in a one-to-one scheme with the state government. Parks Victoria is a state government-owned agency, as we know, and is charging taxpayers to manage the Prom. Now, we do not mind that, but we do not want money being drained away to fill coffers of black holes in the CBD of Melbourne and surrounds when it should be out actually managing our parks properly. Research shows that Parks Victoria is also a founding partner of the People & Parks Foundation and the principal project manager of the Prom foundation. The Prom foundation for months has been appealing for donations to pay for core land and wildlife conservation activities, activities that the state is responsible for. Minister, the action I seek for you is to explain why you are using a charity to solicit donations to raise revenue for core responsibilities including weed, pest control, habitat management and species protection. We love the Prom, but you should be funding it.