Great Forest National Park ‘not government policy’

THE Liberals and Nationals have demanded confirmation that the Victorian Government will not back the formation of the Great Forest National Park (GFNP).

Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, has written to Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos, requesting a formal public commitment.

It comes after Field and Game Australia revealed on social media that the Minister told an Electrical Trade Union delegates conference that Labor does not support a GFNP.

Similarly, on May 14, this newspaper was provided with a statement from government saying, “We see a future where the benefit of our forests are enjoyed by all Victorians.

The government will not be considering large scale land tenure changes.”

Attempts were made to confirm whether the statement relating to no large scale land tenure changes definitely applies to the Central Highlands rather than the Great Outdoors Taskforce area, however no response was received.

The proposed half a million-hectare GFNP, about 90 minutes north-east of Melbourne, would triple the area of the Central Highlands Forest.

Ms Bath’s request follows a recent parliamentary petition opposing the creation of new national parks which gathered over 40,000 signatures, underscoring widespread public discontent.

Ms Bath said Victorians did not need more poorly maintained ‘pad-locked’ national parks.

“If Minister Dimopoulos is prepared to say there will be no Great Forest National Park to union delegates behind closed doors, he must be prepared to put it on the public record,” Ms Bath said.

“The government owes an explanation to the…