PARK WATCH Article December 2025 |

Jordan Crook, Parks and Nature Campaigner explores a long-awaited and much needed review of the Wildlife Act, but asks if it achieves anything

Following the gruesome discovery of over 300 slaughtered Wedge-tail Eagles in East Gippsland in 2021, then environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio commissioned a review of Victoria’s Wildlife Act 1975.

A chorus of voices across the state, including VNPA, were appalled at the deaths of such majestic animals. We were equally dismayed at the subsequent slap on the wrist the perpetrators received: one person was fined $2,500 and jailed for 14 days for this offence. This was, however, the first custodial sentence for killing wildlife in Victoria.

The Wildlife Act in its current form is now 50 years old. Since its creation, the human population of Victoria has grown almost four-fold from 1.84 million in 1975 to over 7 million today.

In this half a century, habitats have been destroyed, increasing interactions between people and wildlife. There’s also been a change in community attitudes to one of greater love and care for native wildlife. This was a point explicitly noted in the review report.

After sitting on numerous environment ministers’ desks since 2021, the Wildlife Act review was released to the public late on a Friday afternoon in October 2025: a tactic journalists refer to as ‘taking out the rubbish.’

Over 1,000 people made submissions to the process, and attended and participated in hearings. Yet the Allan Government’s response to the recommendations are underwhelming. They’re dismissive of many crucial changes needed to protect wildlife in Victoria.

Despite the strong findings of the panel, the government rejected many much-needed reforms. Wildlife Victoria said ‘…government response instead has focussed largely on some regulatory updates and compliance rather than the reform required’ and the ‘…response has failed to take the opportunity to drive the structural transformation both recommended by the Expert Advisory Panel and absolutely required to protect our wildlife.’

Protected invasive species

An important area needed to further protect our wildlife and habitats is the removal of feral deer from the Wildlife Act as a ‘protected game species.’ Yet the government has decided to maintain the status quo, despite widespread confusion and frustration about why deer remain the only invasive species protected under nature laws.

Land holders must continue to apply to control feral deer by trapping. Or in some cases can’t control feral deer at all. Hog Deer, despite damaging coastal woodlands and wetlands, remain protected on public and private land.

An independent regulator

The second necessary reform was the need for the Office of the Conservation Regulator (OCR) to be established as an ‘Independent and structurally separate regulator’, outside of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

As we’ve seen over the past few years, the OCR is unable to regulate Forest Fire Management Victoria’s operations (which sits within DEECA), with devastating consequences. For example, fuel break clearing (aka loophole logging) in Yarra Ranges National Park destroyed ancient trees and killed at least one Critically Endangered Greater Glider.

Some positive changes, but who enforces them?

Other changes include increased fines and jail time as well as new offences. These range from destruction of habitat and feeding animals in the wild to wildlife trafficking. There’s also a fit-and-proper persons test for people who own wildlife.

These changes have been needed for many years and are good first steps. Other changes include:

  1. An updated licencing system for wildlife with complex needs such as venomous snakes and monitor lizards.
  2. Limits on large-scale wildlife breeding to stamp out cruel breeding practices.
  3. A ban on keeping crocodiles as pets.

Significant investments were also made to a new wildlife hospital in Kyabram, and grants for wildlife carers. Grants include vet outreach, and training to help build skills and capacity following emergencies. These are a step in the right direction to support volunteer wildlife carers.

But with all these much-needed legal changes, who will enforce them? With the OCR already under pressure from the sacking of 33 staff in October 2024, it’s unclear how these new offences will be enforced or overseen.