By JESSE GRAHAM
THE Greens have come out swinging in favour of a new national park in the Toolangi State Forest, following a high-profile visit to the area last weekend.
Federal Greens party leader Christine Milne, deputy leader Adam Bandt, Senator Janet Rice and a slew of Victorian Greens candidates attended an event for Threatened Species Day in the forest on Sunday 7 September.
The event was put on by environmental groups, including the Knitting Nannas of Toolangi, and called for an end to logging in the area to protect the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum.
Around 100 people attended, and Ms Milne made a firebrand speech to the crowd, calling for the Great Forest National Park (GFNP) proposal to become a key election issue in November.
“The best hope you’ve got of getting this national park and getting these forests protected is the State Election this year,” she said.
“The way to do this is to force one of Liberals or Labor in Victoria to commit to the national park.”
She encouraged people passionate about the cause to hold bipartisan town meetings in their electorates, to offer a chance for candidates from all parties to discuss the proposal, and to put pressure on the issue.
The event was also a chance to raise the profile of the Greens candidate for the Eildon electorate, Marie Sellstrom, who will go up against the Coalition’s Cindy McLeish, Labor’s Sally Brennan and Independent candidate Bruce Argyle in the 29 November election.
Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum member, Steve Meacher, said members of the Victorian cabinet – including Premier Denis Napthine – and Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews were invited to the event, but they declined or did not respond.
Environment Minister Ryan Smith, who was unable to attend, told the Mail that the Coalition would “continue to protect and support the recovery of the Leadbeater’s Possum.”
Mr Smith noted the Leadbeater’s Possum Advisory Group (LPAG) recommendations handed down this year, and the government’s $11 million commitment to them.
Shadow Environment minister, Lisa Neville, said after meeting with organisations and experts – including GFNP proposer and scientist, Professor David Lindenmayer – the party did not believe the recommendations gave “appropriate protection” to the possum.
“We will continue to work with experts and local communities on the best strategies to protect Victoria’s threatened species in developing our national parks and environment policy,” she said.
When questioned about criticism of the LPAG recommendations, Mr Smith responded: “The Victorian Coalition Government has taken more action to protect our state’s faunal emblem than Labor did in 11 years.”
Friends of Forestry (FoF) member Graham Taylor reiterated the group’s opposition to the national park proposal.
“We don’t believe they’re getting any traction with the broader community or the regional community,” he said.
“There’s no government support – it is simply a proposal the Greens and environmental groups are lobbying to the government.”
As of Tuesday 9 September, 81 days remain before the Victorian election.
