Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Hansard source

One of the great sights you'll see in western Victoria happens when two brolgas are courting and start dancing in a paddock. It is magic to witness and watch. But the sad reality is that the brolga is now a threatened species and this lovely ritual, and other sightings of the brolgas in western Victoria, is getting harder and harder to see. That's why, on behalf of the community, I've taken action. I have written to the government to ensure that the brolga gets recognised as a protected species. This could not be more important. The government talks a huge game about protecting our environment and protecting our nature. Well, now they have a test.

I have written to the director of the species listing, information and policy section of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. I've said this: 'In light of the information now regarding the status of the brolga, I ask the Threatened Species Scientific Committee to list the southern brolga as endangered or critically endangered; conduct an urgent review into current projects posing an unacceptable risk to the viability of the southern brolga and its critical habitat; and undertake urgent and integrated conservation action, as outlined in the enclosed threatened species nomination form, to conserve the species.' Let's hope the government acts. Otherwise, that beautiful courting ritual could be something which, sadly, disappears in western Victoria.

I had the great honour of participating in the fun run at Coleraine a week ago. This wasn't a normal fun run. This was a fun run about making sure that we can conserve and protect one of the greatest native eucalyptus collections in the world. This has been under the management of the Victorian state government, and, sadly, they have neglected it.

The Coleraine community have taken back the Points arboretum and are now doing everything they can to get it back to the pristine condition it should be in. They've updated the tracks again. They're putting signs on all the different eucalyptus species and making this a world famous location again. I can't thank the Coleraine community enough for all their efforts in doing this.

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