NEWS 19 November 2024 |

Repeated delays in establishing new national parks and reserves prompts urgent calls for the Victorian Government to deliver on its commitments.

The Allan Labor Government has repeatedly promised “the largest expansion to our forest reserve system in our state’s history” including new national parks. But so far it has created even fewer new protected areas than the Kennett Liberal Government.

An overwhelming majority of Victorians support the creation of new national parks creating a situation where the actions of both major parties are at odds with the clear preferences of the wider community.

New statewide polling released today confirms that 84% of Victorians say national parks are important to them and 80% of Victorians support the creation of new national parks—while only 8% oppose them (please see editor’s notes for more information).

The polling reveals that this issue is of such significance that it could cause many voters to break their long-held voting allegiances with the major parties: 34% of voters said they would consider shifting their vote to another party if Labor failed to deliver Great Forest National Park, and 48% of voters would consider shifting their vote away from the Coalition if it opposed new national parks.

Despite an end to industrial native forest logging and the winding up of the state government logging agency, VicForests, without legislated protections eastern forests remain vulnerable. Nature conservation groups are deeply disappointed that the Allan Government, with only three sitting days left, is yet to introduce legislation to create long promised new central west parks before the end of this year.

The visionary Great Forest National Park proposal, put forward by scientists, regional community groups, and conservation organisations for over a decade, will create affordable and accessible recreation opportunities for Victorians and visitors alike and secure Melbourne’s water supply. It will safeguard threatened wildlife like the Leadbeater’s Possum (Wollert), Greater Glider (Warnda) and the tallest flowering plant in the world—Mountain Ash.

Matt Ruchel, Executive Director of the Victorian National Parks Association, said, “The numbers show Victorians love national parks and nature, no matter where they live or what walk of life they are from. Importantly they also expect our governments to deliver new ones.

“It’s clear that some action on climate change isn’t enough – the government must do more  to show voters they are acting on environment issues.

“If the government wants to demonstrate its genuine commitment to addressing the environmental issues that Victorians really care about, then keeping its promise to establish new parks and reserves like the long promised central west parks and Great Forest National Park would be a significant step in the right direction”.

Amelia Young, National Campaigns Director for the Wilderness Society, said, “These numbers show Victorians want their government to act on its promise of new national parks and reserves, and they want the Premier to do this without further delays.

“Victorians value and expect new parks and the proper management of existing parks. Not recognising this is a failure to understand what really matters to Victorians.

“There’s a terrific legacy of environment protection and new regional jobs and tourism opportunities here for the taking if the government acts on the evidence and establishes new parks and reserves such as delivering on the promised central west parks, and on  visions like the Great Forest National Park proposal, whilst recognising the rights and aspirations of Traditional Owners.”

Background:

  • A final report from the ‘Eminent Person Panel for Community Engagement’, established by the government in 2019 to consider the creation of new parks and reserves in the Central Highlands / Yarra Ranges region is likely to be released imminently after significant delay
  • This follows a Victorian Environmental Assessment Council report released in December 2023 which identified that the tall wet ash forests of the Central Highlands have very high values for nature conservation, cultural heritage, water production, carbon storage, recreation and tourism, science, and many other uses
  • In July 2024 Environment Minister Steve Dimpoulos accused the Nationals party of running a ‘scare campaign’ on the issue

Editors notes:

Polling of 1,518 Victorians was conducted in September and October 2024 across the state. The results showed:

National Parks are roundly understood and popular:

  • 84% of Victorians said national parks were important to them (38 % say very important and 46% somewhat important)
  • 80% of Victorians support the creation of new national parks (36% strongly support and 44% support) while just 8% oppose them (5% oppose and 3% strongly oppose). 12% are unsure
  • Victorians support for national parks is largely bipartisan and evenly distributed across the state whether inner city, middle ring or rural and regional areas.
  • Establishment of new parks is supported by wide majorities in rural and regional areas (79%), the inner and middle suburbs of Melbourne (81%), the outer suburbs (82%)
  • Support is particularly high among young Victorians with 85% of 18-34s supporting the creation of new national parks

Voter intentions: National parks are a vote-winner across the board:

  • 89% of Labor voters, 72% of Coalition supporters and 94% of Greens voters support new national parks
  • Voters are more likely to say that delivery of the Great Forest National Park increases their support for Labor (33%) than reduces it (13%), alternatively, failure to deliver reduces this support (34%) more than increase it (10%)
  • 15% of Labor voters would consider shifting to other parties/candidates if Labor does NOT deliver the Great Forest National Park
  • 62% of Greens voters would consider shifting to Labor if Labor DOES deliver Great Forest National Park
  • 59% of Coalition voters would consider shifting to other parties/candidates if the Coalition opposes new national parks and allows logging in native forests
  • 36% of Coalition voters would be more likely to vote for the Coalition if it supports new national parks and bans logging in these areas
  • 30% of Labor voters would be more likely to shift their vote to the Coalition if it supports new national parks and bans logging in these areas

Tourism and recreation opportunities:

  • Over half of all Victorians said that presence of a National Park would make them more likely to visit regional Victoria
  • The most forest-based popular activities for Victorians include: Short bushwalks, (48%), picnics (36%), photography (21%), Multi-day camping (11%), bird watching (11%)
  • The least popular forest-based activities for Victorians (under 5%) include: Trail-bike riding (motorised) and shooting and hunting
  • People particularly value waterfalls and rivers, but also desire peace and quiet, good views and seeing wildlife in their natural habitat. In terms of facilities, public toilets, picnic areas, good car access and well-maintained campgrounds are high priorities
  • 69% of Victorians report having engaged in at least one activity in the bush in the past year

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