28 April 2015
The Member for Murray Plains and Leader of The Nationals joined the debate on the National
Parks Amendment (Prohibiting Cattle Grazing) Bill 2015 in State Parliament on 15 April.
The Melbourne Labor Government has introduced the Bill to bring an end to the 160 year old
tradition of cattle grazing in the national parks.
The former Coalition government allowed 57 head of cattle to graze in the Wonnangatta Valley in
state’s east last year to test if bushfire fuel loads would be reduced.
The Melbourne Labor government suspended the trial following its election in November 2014.
In introducing the Bill the Labor Minister for Environment Climate Change and Water claimed that there exists extensive scientific research and that the science is clear.
“The Nationals do not agree that on the subject of grazing and fuel reduction adequate
scientific research exists in any credible form “ Mr Walsh said.
“I put it to the House that national parks are great places because people over the generations our
forefathers and mothers looked after them well.
That is why they are there to be preserved – because previous generations did a very good
job of managing them he said
Mr Walsh has recently returned from a two day horse ride through the Victorian High Country which
reaffirmed his strongly held view that the management of public land in Victoria is very poor.
“The Melbourne Labor government’s reintroduction of legislation targeting cattle is overkill and unnecessary “ he said.
