Baillieu hides bull on the cows

In order to maintain its standing with certain beef farmers over the Alpine National Parks grazing issue, the Baillieu government took its legal challenge to the Federal Court in early August – at great cost to you and I. Victoria’s current conservative coalition wants to overturn a decision by federal Environment Minister Tony Burke that …

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Research on alpine grazing was a draft

AFTER a 17-month battle with the Baillieu government, the environment movement has received a key document that underpinned the controversial decision to return cattle to the Alpine National Park. But the document, it turns out, is rather curious. The released academic paper – one of two scientific reviews the government relied on to conclude that …

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Baillieu linked to mine debacle

A controversial mine site is seeking government approval from the Baillieu government to reopen at Benambra, north of Swifts Creek in East Gippsland. The original Benambra mine was operated by Denehurst – and now the connections appear – in which our Premier, Ted Baillieu was a shareholder. Click here for the news story. The main …

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Court to hear alpine grazing ban challenge

THE Baillieu government will argue the Commonwealth acted outside its jurisdiction when it blocked a controversial cattle grazing trial in the Alpine National Park in a long-awaited court challenge. The state government is seeking to overturn a decision by federal Environment Minister Tony Burke that the trial is ”clearly unacceptable” under national environment laws due …

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Rethink burn targets – Comrie

Former Victorian Police Commissioner Neil Comrie who has the job of monitoring the response to the Black Saturday Royal Commission, says a target to burn 5% of Victoria’s public land every year must be reconsidered. Neil Comrie is now saying what we have for years – DSE should instead focus on protecting high-risk fire areas …

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Logging road curve given quarter of a million upgrade

A logging road in South Gippsland is being given a quarter of a million dollar upgrade to help the trucks travel faster. Deputy Premier and Gippsland South National Party MLA Peter Ryan said his government will widen a bend on Woorarra Rd, between Wonyip and Ryton Junction. This road curve has inadequate passing space for …

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Bushfire burnoff goal ‘needs review’

THE man charged with monitoring the state government’s response to the Black Saturday royal commission says a target to burn 5 per cent of Victoria’s public land every year to ease bushfire risk must be reconsidered. In his final report Bushfire Royal Commission Implementation Monitor Neil Comrie says the state’s burning program should instead focus …

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Rezoning owls to extinction?

Being our ‘eagles of the night’, owls are rarely seen. Our most mysterious owls are those that live in forests, and even more cryptic are those that can only thrive in old growth forests. They are becoming increasingly endangered. Our state government is currently reviewing owl protection zones (June 2012), but they are using out …

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Baillieu’s bitter swill

The government’s announcement that it will spend $1.8M to survey for endangered wildlife in Eastern Victoria is like throwing a teaspoon of sugar into a cauldron of bitter swill. Environment East Gippsland says that this shines the spotlight on the environmental hypocrisy of the Baillieu government. “The government might be offering $1.8M to look for …

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