New outdoor recreation body risks failing parks, nature and recreational users

Parliament is about to vote on legislation that would create a new land access panel with no independent oversight and no legal duty to protect nature.

The Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) is calling for the rejection or significant amendments to the Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill 2026 due to be debated by the Legislative Council today. They are warning the legislation would create a body with sweeping influence over public land which could impact nature protection right across Victoria.

VNPA says a new Land Access Panel established under the Bill would be hand-picked by the responsible Minister, with no requirement for nature conservation expertise, no obligation to publish its advice, and no duty to assess impacts on nature. The panel would act without oversight from the independent Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, which was charged with assessing public land use and recently abolished by the government, supposedly as a cost-saving measure.

‘Our parks and public land are for enjoying and protecting nature. One shouldn’t come at the cost of the other.’ said VNPA Executive Director Matt Ruchel.

‘A body with influence over public land access and management must carry a legal obligation to protect nature. The bill is currently unbalanced and will prioritise one group of users to the detriment of a majority of visitors and nature.’

The Bill establishes Outdoor Recreation Victoria by merging the Game Management Authority (GMA) and the Victorian Fisheries Authority. A recent ABC investigation raises serious questions about whether that foundation is sound.

The purpose of the Land Access Panel seems to be to fill the void left by the abolished Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, but without that body’s independence or transparency. Where the council was required to conduct public reviews and publish findings tabled in parliament, the new panel would operate with no equivalent obligations.

VNPA is urging the Legislative Council to reject the Bill or pass amendments that:
• Establish nature protection as a core objective of Outdoor Recreation Victoria.
• Require the Land Access Panel to include independent conservation expertise, publish its advice, and assess nature impacts before recommending changes to public land access.
• Separate Outdoor Recreation Victoria’s promotional functions from its regulatory and enforcement functions.

Victoria is the most cleared state in Australia. More than half of the state’s native vegetation has been cleared since European settlement, and many native plants, animals and fungi are at risk. Victoria’s 8 million hectares of public land, which includes state forest and national parks, contains most of the remaining habitat. Most indicators for biodiversity are declining according to Victoria’s State of the Environment Report.

‘We all love our parks. They protect wildlife and habitats and they’re great places to go walking, camping, birdwatching and more.’ said Ruchel.

‘That’s exactly why independent oversight matters, and why this Bill, as drafted, needs to change or be dropped. To protect parks and public land, for nature and for people.’