Victoria’s wildlife pays the price for Labor’s bushfire failures

In the wake of devastating bushfires, critics say the Allan Government has abandoned efforts to save wildlife while allowing hunting to continue, writes Sue Arnold.

VICTORIAN Labor Government led by the Prime Minister Jacinta AllanIt provides clear evidence of what lies ahead for Australia’s wildlife, ecosystems and environment under Labor governments.

The devastating environmental damage caused by raging bushfires in January and February provides a damning picture of the Allan government’s environmental negligence.

Georgie PurcellVictoria, leader of the Victorian Animal Justice Party and member of the Victorian Legislative Council, outlined the current situation after raging bushfires destroyed more than 400,000 hectares.

Trying to get any information about wildlife from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action is incredibly disappointing and worrying (DEECA).

There is a serious transparency problem when it comes to native animals. Questions about the declaration in Parliament made clear that trust issues will never be fixed by a lack of respect.

Contrary to current concerns, actions and financing provided by the previous Prime Minister Daniel Andrews later Black Summer bushfires Prime Minister Allan’s reaction to the latest fires, which burned 1.5 million hectares in Victoria, is extremely worrying.

The Andrews Government has acknowledged hundreds of millions of animals were lost in Victoria’s Black Summer bushfires. As well as recognizing areas where the recovery response can be improved. A. Wildlife Welfare Forest Fire Response Action Plan was put into action.

The Andrews Government’s initiatives have been funded by the $59 million bushfire biodiversity response and recovery program implemented since the 2019/2020 fires, described as part of a range of measures to protect and enhance our precious environment.

Georgie Purcell was heavily involved in Andrews Government wildlife welfare roundtables held after the fires.

I am still trying to come to terms with the sharp shift in sentiment, treatment and failure to respond to the current fires of the Allan Labor Government.

Problems with wildlife and animals have always been quite distressing under Prime Minister Allan, but they are much worse after these fires. I spoke with many trained rescue volunteers who were waiting to receive a call to action from DEECA. No calls were received, leaving volunteers facing an impossible scenario. Go and help animals, but only by breaking the law.

Food deliveries, water stations, aerial monitoring, rescuers becoming more skilled at taking animals in after the Black Summer fires, it all happened. Roundtables were held to improve major failures. We hoped that the recommendations would create a path to real change.

We can point directly to the Prime Minister for the deeply worrying shift in policy and priorities.

There is no evidence to suggest that DEECA distributed food, set up water stations, or conducted wildlife surveys.

Action Network – A coalition of Victorian conservation organizations – wrote in an open letter to the Victorian Labor government:

‘The terrible devastation caused by ongoing drought and fires has caused immeasurable damage to Victorian wildlife and ecosystems; Some currently endangered species are approaching extinction. ‘The Victorian Government’s neglect and continued destruction of wildlife is particularly distressing for those who work and volunteer in wildlife conservation and related areas.’

Conditions in Victoria are deteriorating as climate change severely impacts the cleanest land state in the country.

Professor Tim Flannery says southeastern Australia Victoria (where the state is located) has been getting increasingly hotter and drier for decades, with 2019 being Australia’s hottest and driest year on record; 2018 was equally dry and almost as hot in southeastern Australia.

Victoria, due to its topography, highly flammable vegetation and frequent exposure to extremely hot, dry and windy weather, historically We have borne the brunt of wildfire disasters far more than other jurisdictions and other regions around the world.

A. Victorian Parliament Inquiry The initiatives related to the recent fires, particularly pushed by the Liberal and National parties in the Legislative Council, have a broad remit, including environmental impact and fire services funding. A report will be prepared by June 1, 2026.

Firefighters have pushed this very hard and their concerns are crucial to the Inquiry.

President CFA Volunteers groupJohn Houston, says:

Firefighters on the front lines cite a lack of safe devices, equipment and basic resources.

The Allan Government ignored and ridiculed the very people it asked to risk their lives to protect their lives and property. This bushfire crisis has turned into a disaster. Victorians deserve to know why.

A very clear and appalling indication of the Allan Government’s disregard for animal welfare, biodiversity and fire damage is the imminent start of Victoria’s “recreational duck hunting season”. The season runs from 18 March to 8 June and results in the killing of an estimated 12.2% of Victoria’s waterfowl. Filming can begin 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset, with a daily limit of nine birds.

waterfowl populations A critical long-term decline is occurring in Victoria and Eastern Australia; surveys indicate a 90% decline in abundance over the last four decades.

Victorian waterfowl have been hit hard by recent fires.

based on latest reportsAn estimated 391,900 game ducks were harvested during the 2024 Victorian duck hunting season; This represents an increase of 22% above the long-term average of approximately 320,000 birds.

A report prepared by Gaming Management Authority He claims an estimated 457,400 stubble quail will be harvested in 2024; that number is nearly three times the long-term average of 159,000.

RSPCA Victoria It is estimated that between 23,500 and 157,000 ducks will be injured or killed during the 2024 season, causing significant animal suffering. The agency estimates that duck hunting is an activity undertaken by 0.18% of the population.

according to Gaming Management AuthorityAny harassment of hunters can result in criminal convictions as well as significant fines of up to and exceeding $9,600.

In 2023-2024, Electrical Trade Associationtogether with CFMEU And AMWUHe rejected the proposed ban on duck hunting and threatened industrial action if the Government continued the ban.

Allan Government He agreed with the unions, and despite a Labor-led inquiry recommending a ban on duck hunting, Allan insisted the hunt should go ahead. There is no doubt that Allan was in tune with his father. Peter AllanLong-time member of the ETU and her husband Yorick PiperA former Victorian official at the CFMEU.

A coalition of unions in question ‘If the ban goes ahead, they would ‘ban all state Labor politicians from taking part in BIG union projects, including the government’s Big Build projects.’

Big Building projects are currently the focus of allegations Geoffrey Watson SC He revealed corruption at the CFMEU, claiming union-related outbursts had cost taxpayers at least $15 billion.

Unions argued that duck hunting was a legitimate, traditional, working-class recreational activity and provided significant mental health benefits, especially for shift workers. shadows Makah tribe In the US state of Washington, there are young people trying to restart whaling to combat problems such as drug and alcohol addiction among young people.

According to the tribe, killing the whales would restore traditional values and strengthen community cohesion to combat the despair and social challenges present in the region.

Victoria’s relevant unions believe any ban would lead to fishing, boating and other fantasy pursuits being outlawed. By not taking the advice of the Parliamentary Inquiry and disagreeing with the unions, Prime Minister Allan essentially let workers know that it was okay to kill wildlife because it would help with any mental health problems.

So far, there is no peer-reviewed published research showing that killing ducks and whales will solve mental health problems, combat drug and alcohol addiction, and strengthen community cohesion.

State elections will be held in November. It remains to be seen whether there is sufficient voter anger at the Allan Government’s ongoing environmental neglect. But Labour’s message is loud and clear.

If ducks are blocking the path of mentally disabled workers, kill them. The problem is that we can all be ducks.