Media Releases

The appalling mismanagement of public lands by the Brumby Government has again been exposed by a damning report from the Auditor-General says Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh.
“Today the Auditor-General tabled his report on the state of Victoria’s parks and public lands and his findings demonstrate a total lack of responsibility by the Brumby Government for our State’s biodiversity,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Control of Invasive Plants and Animals in Victoria’s Parks report details extensive failings and mismanagement by this Government proving it to be the most negligent landholder in Victoria,” he said.
“The report is scathing on the lack of management and the lack of resource allocation to address the issues of invasive weeds and pest animals such as rabbits, foxes, feral cats and wild dogs.
“This lack of responsibility by Premier Brumby is having a devastating effect on landholders whose properties abut public land.
“Whilst private landholders battle to control the invasive plants and animals that encroach onto their land, John Brumby’s negligence allows unfettered growth of the problem in our parks and public lands.
“Farmers are sick and tired of constantly outlaying large amounts of money, time and energy combating weeds and pests whilst the Brumby Government effectively ignores the problems that afflict the land under its control,” Mr Walsh said.
“Ignoring these problems on public lands only allows these pests to further invade private land increasing the expense to our farmers.
“Effective programs to address the problems of weeds, pests and land degradation, such as have been proposed by the Liberal-Nationals, are the only way to manage these issues and, as the largest landholder in the State, the Brumby Government must take responsibility for its mismanagement and lack of resourcing,” Mr Walsh said.