Victorians for Nature

Victorians for Nature exists to hold governments and corporations to account for the systematic destruction of nature in Victoria. And to demand better.

Visit the Victorians for Nature website to send a letter to your representatives, see the F*ckery list, join the alliance, or learn more.

State election policy platform 

Victorians for Nature is an alliance of nature organisations committed to protecting nature in Victoria. The Alliance includes the Victorian National Parks Association, The Wilderness Society, Victorian Forest Alliance and Environment Victoria. 

This document outlines policy commitments we are asking of the Victorian government in the lead up to the state election. We call on decision makers to commit to:

1. Protect nature in Victoria 

Victoria is home to some of the most precious and spectacular habitats in the world, havens for incredible plants, animals and fungi. Yet many areas are still under threat. Despite the state government’s announcement to end native forest logging by 1 January 2024, logging has continued in various forms. 

It’s critical the state government fully end native forest logging by closing the loopholes that allow commercial logging on public and private land to continue. 

Proposed policy:

A legislated ban on commercial native forest logging on public and private land, including the closure of logging loopholes through the Forests Act 1958, the Forests (Wood Pulp Agreement) Act 1996, private land logging under the Planning and Environmental Act 1987, and salvage logging loopholes. 

The Government must honour promises for new national parks and conservation reserves, including Melbourne’s Grasslands Reserves and reserves in central west Victoria. 

Proposed policy: Legislate Melbourne’s Grasslands Reserves and the remaining central west conservation reserves. 

Following the ending of native forest logging, the state government must immediately protect forests from future exploitation. 

Proposed policy (subject to negotiations with Traditional Owners): 

• Significantly expand and link existing parks in the Central Highlands.
• Expand and link East Gippsland national parks. 
• Support Emerald Link, a community led, conservation economy initiative for East Gippsland. 
• Assess and nominate eastern Victoria’s forests for UNESCO World Heritage listing. 

2. Significantly increase funding to support the care and management of national parks and conservation reserves 

Cuts to park management agencies and programs have had terrible consequences for the health of Victoria’s world-class national parks and impacted hundreds of jobs. National parks and conservation reserves must be fully funded and managed by properly resourced, skilled professionals, including for management and care by Traditional Owners, to better manage and support the health of nature in Victoria. 

Proposed policy:

A commitment to fund national parks and other protected areas to at least 1% of the State Budget, including: 

• Redirecting any funds left in the $1.5 billion forest transition fund to the management of national parks and other protected areas. 
• Reversing the cuts to Parks Victoria. 
• Reinstating funding and staff capacity in public land management agencies to effectively control invasive species. 

3. Partner with and resource Traditional Owners to lead on the management, restoration, and care of Country 

The Victorian government is starting to acknowledge the historic and ongoing harm to First Nations peoples from colonisation through truth-telling and signed a Treaty with Traditional Owners. This is an important step, but there’s a lot more to be done. The government must partner with Traditional Owners to evolve public land management to better recognise First Nations peoples rights and interests in Country. 

Proposed policy:

The Victorian Government must negotiate with Traditional Owners to increase their ownership, access and management of Country, including across the protected  area estate and other public lands. 

The Treaty Process is a key mechanism for delivering on this. The Victorian government must partner with and properly resource Traditional Owners to manage lands and waters. 

4. Support the respectful connection with and health of nature in Victoria for the benefit all Victorians 

The Victorian community expects wildlife and their habitats be protected from threats, including the impacts of invasive species and illegal or harmful activities, such as firewood theft, over-fishing, wildlife and plant poaching, visitor pressure and illegal vegetation clearing. 

Proposed policies: 

• Manage parks for the purpose of protecting nature, in line with Traditional Owners’ cultural rights and obligations to practice culture on Country, and recreational use that avoids harm to habitats and wildlife. 
• Restore fisheries officer and park ranger numbers, and rebuild specialist capability and capacity in compliance, biodiversity and recreation management, and park planning. 
• Provide the necessary resources to fully implement the Victorian Deer Control Strategy 2020, modernise the Wildlife Act 1975 to remove the ‘protected’ status of feral deer, and provide dedicated funding for the complete eradication of deer within the region covered by the West Victorian Deer Control Plan 2023-2028. 

Visit the Victorians for Nature website to send a letter to your representatives, see the F*ckery list, join the alliance, or learn more.

Download this State Election Policy Platform as a PDF document here.