The Hon. Beverley McArthur, Member for Western Victoria, Media Release, 12 November 2024

In response to recent budget, staffing, and service cuts affecting Parks Victoria, Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur raised concerns over the future management of Victoria’s Parks.

Mrs McArthur highlighted the severe impact of these changes, pointing out that “Victoria’s parks, like everything else beyond the tram tracks, are a low priority. Even when the government had money, Parks Victoria was not a priority.”

“I have been pointing out the shortcomings of Parks Victoria for many years here, but while I still argue that they bring many problems on themselves, I do have some sympathy for the diminishing workforce left to pick up the pieces.

“I mean, how on earth could they realistically manage 4.12 million hectares of parks with 526 staff in the field?

“Despite ministers introducing rules to penalise farmers for failing to control weeds and pests, everyone in the country knows the worst neighbour you can have is the government.”

Mrs McArthur cited current performance statistics indicating that, in the past three years, the area treated for invasive species and pest control has fallen by 33 per cent.

Furthermore, a confidential report referenced in The Weekly Times reveals that Parks Victoria’s “must do” services have been halved—from 111 to just 60—while vital tasks, including invasive species management and rubbish removal, are now classified as “could do if resources permit” or “only do if tied funded” or “stop/pause”.

Mrs McArthur told the Parliament that “Removing dumped rubbish and managing invasive species like pigs, deer, rabbits and plants are no longer essential.

“Staff are being cut, and the paper claims that the junior rangers program, nature walks, the bush kinder and all other educational programs have been stopped.”

The Community and Public Sector Union says its Parks Victoria members are “concerned that the organisation is unable to operate at the levels required to deliver.

“There is a lack of funding from government and what appears to be an inability of PV leadership to advocate to Spring St to secure ongoing and improved funding.”

In Parliament, Mrs McArthur said, “it is no wonder Parks have created a template workbook called ‘Asset closures and prioritisation’ so staff can create cookie-cutter responses to all the public complaints.”

Mrs McArthur expressed disbelief over the timing of recent legislative actions that aim to add 450,000 hectares of new national parkland, arguing it is unsustainable given the existing financial and staffing constraints and would further compromise the quality of park management.

“This collision of budget reality with the policy promise of more national parks shows that Labor really has lost the plot.

“The action I seek from the minister is to halt any further expansion of Victorian parks.

“If you cannot manage the existing land, do not create new parks.

“The risk is that with larger areas covered and falling resources, the government will not reverse the national parks designation or leave areas alone and open to public use.

“It would be simpler, cheaper and now, sadly, legal simply to invest in padlocks.”