MEDIA RELEASE 4 December 2025 |
Victoria’s leading conservation groups have expressed alarm over the environmental implications of cuts to 1000 public sector jobs announced today following the Victorian government’s Silver cost-cutting report.
The groups are disappointed that the standalone Victorian Marine and Coastal Council will be largely wound up along with the long standing environmental institution the Victorian Environment Assessment Council (VEAC).
Environment Victoria and the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) expressed further alarm that the axing of Sustainability Victoria and Recycling Victoria reflects a worrying trend of losing vital public-facing support and community engagement to tackle our biggest environmental challenges.
“Key environment institutions are being cut or hollowed out and this will seriously diminish the State capacity to do robust strategic planning for nature which is under increasing threat in Victoria,” said Matt Ruchel, Executive Director, Victorian National Parks Association.
“Cutting VEAC’s globally leading institution before its job has been done is a short sighted and misguided attempt to find small budget gains, while costing the environment real protection and reform.”
“Our unique natural areas are the foundation for Victoria’s wellbeing and lifestyle and are being put at the bottom of the funding pile”.
“The latest government State of the Environment Report 2024 for Victoria continued to show continued deterioration of Victoria’s natural places and native plants and animals. The report concluded that it is clear that Victoria’s biodiversity is in decline.”
“One quarter to one third of Victoria’s terrestrial plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, along with numerous invertebrates and ecological communities, are considered threatened with extinction. Of the 40 indicators assessed for biodiversity over 80% were assessed as poor or unknown.”
“Merging of Fisheries Authority & Game Management Authority might make sense but only if it leads to greater enforcement capacity, which has already been seriously depleted with dramatic cuts to fisheries officers.”
“First fisheries officers are gutted. Now, the government is abolishing the Marine and Coastal Council—just when Victoria can least afford to lose expert advice on protecting our marine wildlife.”
“Victoria’s marine expertise is already under pressure. Abolishing the Marine and Coastal Council removes a critical voice that advises the Environment Minister on safeguarding our oceans and marine life.”
Dr Kat Lucas-Healey, Environment Victoria’s Senior Climate and Energy Advisor said the loss of Sustainability Victoria means losing focus on public-facing programs that encourage recycling and reuse behaviour change, with those programs shifting to the Department.
“Folding Recycling Victoria into the EPA leaves the one agency regulating their own plans for controversial projects such as Waste to Energy facilities.”
“Coupled with the loss of Sustainability Victoria, which has the expertise to run public programs such as Resource Smart Schools, we have to wonder whether the government is serious about fixing our waste crisis.”
